NEW YORK, NY – August 9, 2025 – The Houston Astros’ bid to win the series in New York hit a major snag today, as they fell to the Yankees 5-4 in a back-and-forth contest at Yankee Stadium. Despite a strong start from their offense, the Astros’ bullpen faltered late, allowing the Yankees to rally and secure the victory.
The Astros jumped out to an early lead, with Jeremy Peña leading off the game with his 12th home run of the season. They continued to hold a lead until the fifth inning, when Giancarlo Stanton hit an RBI single off Framber Valdez to put the Yankees up 3-2.
However, the Astros’ offense fought back to tie the game in the eighth inning. They took advantage of some sloppy play from the Yankees, including a throwing error, to score two runs and make it a 4-4 game. Jose Altuve and Christian Walker both contributed with key RBIs in the inning, with Walker drawing a bases-loaded walk to tie it up.
But the tie was short-lived. In the bottom of the eighth, Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham hit a go-ahead solo home run off Astros reliever Bryan King, his 21st of the season, to give the Yankees a 5-4 lead. The Astros were unable to mount another comeback in the ninth.
The loss is a tough one for the Astros, especially given that they had a chance to win the game in the eighth. For Framber Valdez, the start was another difficult one, as he allowed four runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings, struggling again with command. The two teams will play the rubber match of the series tomorrow.
A Look at the Standings
Despite the loss, the Astros are still holding on to the top spot in the American League West with a record of 65-52. Their lead over the second-place Seattle Mariners (64-53) is now just 1.0 game, with the Mariners on a five-game winning streak. The Texas Rangers (60-57) are in third, 5.0 games back. As the division leader, the Astros currently hold a playoff spot, but their margin for error has shrunk considerably.