Yankees Defeat the Astros for Their 6th Win in a Row

Gary Sanchez, Gleyber Torres and D. J. LeMahieu homered in a hurry, connecting in a six-run fourth inning that powered the host Yankees past the Houston Astros, 10-6, on Thursday night for their sixth straight win.

Edwin Encarnacion hit his 23rd home run, which leads the American League, as the Yankees handed Houston its season-worst fifth loss in a row.

The Astros dropped a matchup of division leaders despite Jake Marisnick’s two home runs and solo drives by Alex Bregman and the rookie Yordan Alvarez.

Cheering the victory was the All-Star slugger Aaron Judge, who was set to come off the injured list for Friday night’s game. Out since April 20 with a strained left oblique, he will join a powerful Yankees lineup that thundered on a stormy evening.

Sanchez opened the fourth with his 22nd homer. With rain falling, Torres connected for a three-run jolt off the rookie Framber Valdez (3-3).

LeMahieu tagged reliever Chris Devenski for a two-run homer and a 6-0 lead. The inning included two delays — a short break to fix the mound and a 37-minute stoppage when the showers fell too hard.

Judge was in the dugout during the first interlude and thumped his hand to the fan chants of “Let’s go, Yankees!” From across the diamond, he tipped his cap toward Bregman, two young stars acknowledging each other.

Encarnacion homered for the second time since being traded from Seattle to the Yankees last weekend, and Giancarlo Stanton got three hits as the Yankees opened a 10-3 lead.

Cameron Maybin added a two-run double, scored twice and made a sliding catch for the Yankees, doing damage against the team he helped win the 2017 World Series. Yet he could be the player sent down when Judge is activated, even after batting .308 and playing well in the outfield — he almost made a circus catch at the wall in left to end the game, only to have Alvarez’s fly elude him for a run-scoring double.

Aroldis Chapman got the final out with two on for his 20th save in 22 chances.

Nestor Cortes Jr. (2-0) pitched three innings after another fine start by opener Chad Green, who struck out three in two scoreless innings. Green has filled that role in his last three outings, fanning 12 in six scoreless innings.

Alvarez lined his fifth home run in nine games since making his big league debut. Bregman hit his 21st.

Jose Altuve, the Astros’ sparkplug, singled for his first hit in eight at-bats since a five-week stay on the injured list because of a strained hamstring.

Inside Pitch

Yankees left-hander Jordan Montgomery has inflammation in his left shoulder and won’t pitch for two weeks. He is recovering from Tommy John surgery but recently had to stop a bullpen session, and it is uncertain if he will pitch this season.

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