Yankees 0 - 4 Astros
Final
  for this game

Astros rely on Keuchel in opener with Yankees

Jun 25, 2015 - 11:17 AM (SportsNetwork.com) - Dallas Keuchel tries to get himself back on the winning track Thursday when the Houston Astros open a four-game series with the New York Yankees at Minute Maid Park.

Keuchel lost for the second time in three starts on Saturday in Seattle, as he allowed five runs and five hits in six innings to fall to 8-3 on the year to go along with a 2.35 ERA.

"We don't see that very often out of him," manager A.J. Hinch said. "I know he didn't feel the ball out of his hand. I know it was a little slippery. When [pitching coach Brent Strom] went out to talk to him, he had a little bit of trouble with gripping the ball. It was pretty dry, and you just don't see him walk those guys very often.

"He had a lot of movement, just couldn't command the strike zone and they were patient enough through that inning. The one-run innings at a time, they kept on tacking on runs to create a little bit of a gap there."

Keuchel lost his only other start to the Yanks, but pitched well, as he gave up three runs in eight innings.

Houston lost the rubber match of its three-game set with the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday when Taylor Featherston's bloop single brought home the deciding run in the 13th inning and sent the Astros to a 2-1 loss.

"That was a hard-fought game on both sides," Hinch said. "To see the game end on a bloop hit over the infield was a punch in the gut."

Houston has now lost four of its last six.

New York, meanwhile, salvaged the finale of its series with the Philadelphia Phillies, as Ivan Nova pitched into the seventh inning in his first start in more than 14 months and the Yankees rolled, 10-2.

Nova (1-0) returned from Tommy John surgery to allow just three hits and two walks in 6 2/3 shutout innings. The 28-year-old right-hander threw 91 pitches, including 51 strikes.

"When I walked to the mound I couldn't believe it had been 14 months," said Nova. "But I was able to keep calm and try to do my best out there."

Mark Teixeira had three hits and two RBI for the Yankees, who snapped a three- game losing streak.

Getting the call for the Yankees on Thursday will be righty Adam Warren, who could be the odd-man out with Nova back in the rotation. Warren, though, has been solid and is coming off a terrific outing against Detroit that saw him allow just two runs in eight innings, as he improved to 5-4 with a 3.62 ERA.

"I thought he was outstanding," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He was as good as he's been all year, and we pushed him. And he was outstanding."

Houston won four of six from the Yankees last season.






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