Oswaldo Cabrera had his best game ever with four hits and three RBIs, while Giancarlo Stanton added a solo homer to help the New York Yankees beat the Houston Astros 7-1 on Friday night.
Manager Aaron Boone is very happy with Cabrera’s strong performance, especially after he had some struggles earlier this spring.
“He’s come through,” Boone said. “In these first two games, he’s been right in the middle of everything. It’s great to see him swinging the bat like this and contributing offensively because then he becomes so valuable.” The Yankees won after rallying from a four-run deficit to win 5-4 in Thursday night’s season opener.
Juan Soto had three hits and put the Yankees ahead when he drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh inning. Cristian Javier kept the Yankees scoreless for six innings before they finally broke through in the seventh.
Tayler Scott (0-1) walked Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells with one out in the seventh. Cabrera hit a single to left field to score Volpe and tie the game at 1-1.
Scott then hit Gleyber Torres on the right hand with a fastball, loading the bases. Torres fell to the ground in pain but remained in the game after being checked by a trainer. However, he was later replaced by Jahmai Jones.
Rafael Montero came in to pitch after Torres was hit and walked Soto, setting up New York’s big eighth inning.
New York added four more runs in the eighth, with help from Houston’s errors. An error by shortstop Jeremy Peña allowed Anthony Rizzo to score, and a throwing error by pitcher Parker Mushinski allowed another run to score.
Cabrera then hit a two-run single to extend the lead to 6-1. Stanton’s homer in the ninth sealed the victory for the Yankees.
