The Yankees blew this weekend's series opener against the Houston Astros as Devin Williams allowed three runs and a comeback attempt fell short in the 10th inning of Friday's 5-3 loss.
Takeaways
- Cam Schlittler continues to give the Yankees a chance. New York's 24-year-old RHP allowed a two-run homer to Jose Altuve with one out in the first inning but kept the Astros at bay otherwise, following with 4.2 shutout frames through the fifth. Schlittler (1-2, 4.38 ERA) scattered seven hits, allowed two runs and struck out three while walking one and hitting another on 97 pitches (66 strikes). After losing five of their past six games, the Yankees needed their starting pitcher to give at least five strong and Schlittler did just that.
- Until the 10th inning, the same could be said about New York's bullpen. Yerry De los Santos (1.2), Camilo Doval (1.1), Luke Weaver (1) took the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings and combined to allow one hit in four scoreless frames. Aside from Williams, the Yankees' bullpen stepped up.
- At this point, what more is there to be said about Williams? Aaron Boone keeps putting Williams in high-leverage situations and is getting the same results. Williams, who allowed Carlos Correa's go-ahead RBI single to score the ghost-running Altuve (who took third base after a wild pitch) and Taylor Trammel's two-run homer with two outs, is simply not fit for the role. In Williams' past five appearances, he has allowed nine runs (eight earned) on seven hits (three homers) over 4.2 IP. What more is there to see from Williams in these spots that has Boone going to him?
- The Yankees fought, including a two-run sixth inning between RBI singles by Ben Rice and Aaron Judge before Anthony Volpe's own RBI single in the 10th inning kept New York's hopes alive. With two outs in the fourth inning, Cody Bellinger's throw from right field on Cam Smith's single caught Trammel out at home and prevented the Astros' potential 3-0 lead. The Yankees showed fight and made the plays to pull out a win, but Williams' 10th-inning implosion was the difference.
Who's the MVP?
Correa, who reached base four times (two hits, two walks) and delivered the go-ahead RBI single that pushed the Astros ahead — and sparked Williams' unraveling.
Highlights
Ben Rice gets the Yankees on the board! pic.twitter.com/INafQlITR0
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) August 9, 2025
Aaron Judge ties the game with an RBI single 馃挭 pic.twitter.com/WtHFiOpkrP
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) August 9, 2025
What's next
The Yankees (61-55) and Astros (65-51) continue their three-game series with Saturday's 2:05 p.m. start. New York RHP Luis Gil (0-1, 13.50 ERA) and Houston LHP Framber Valdez (11-5, 2.83 ERA) are set to take the mound.