Gurriel, Astros win 8-1, Yanks' 14th loss in 19 games
HOUSTON (AP) - Yuli Gurriel and the Houston Astros are cruising toward the All-Star break.
Gurriel finished a triple shy of the cycle, Carlos Correa tied a career-high with four hits and had three RBIs, and the Astros routed the Yankees 8-1 Sunday to send New York to its 14th loss in 19 games.
"When he's swinging the bat like he has recently it's pretty scary to have that good a hitter that low in the order," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "He's dangerous, and when he gets hot as we can see he can put some really good swings on balls."
Marwin Gonzalez hit a two-run homer in a three-run second off Luis Severino (5-4) as the Astros improved the best record in the major leagues to 56-27. Houston had 14 hits, including seven doubles, and went 6 for 17 with runners in scoring position.
New York, which led the AL East by four games on June 13, lost two of three to the Astros and dropped three games behind division-leading Boston.
"We're going through some difficult times right now and have been through a lot of injuries, and you find out how your club handles it," New York manager Joe Girardi said. "We keep fighting back, and our organization is very talented."
Josh Reddick had an RBI double in the second, and Correa hit a two-run double in the fourth as Houston opened a 4-0 lead. Correa, who extended his hitting streak to 12 games, added an RBI single in the sixth.
"I think he's just getting good pitches to hit," Hinch said. "He can cover everything. When he's pulling the ball down the line, getting a base hit to right. ... He's tough to pitch to. He's tough to defend."
Gurriel doubled in the second, singled in the fourth and hit a two-run home run in the seventh against Domingo German.
Severino allowed six runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings, slamming his glove in the dugout when he was pulled from the game after a double by Springer. The hits were a season high and the runs matched the most this year off Severino, who has given up four or more runs in three of his last four starts.
"When my slider is not working, I have to go to my changeup, but when I'm having trouble with that, it's tough," Severino said.
New York went 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position and didn't score until Chris Carter's RBI single in the ninth. Brett Gardner hit a warning-track flyout that ended the second with two on.
The Yankees and Washington are the only big league teams this year that have not been shut out.
Mike Fiers allowed two hits and struck out seven but tied a season high with four walks. He stranded a runner on second in the first, second and third innings.
"I felt really good," Fiers said. "It just didn't work out. There's a lot of times where you feel really good and don't have the outing you want. Some days it happens like this - two hits, but I was over 100 pitches after four."
Chris Devenski (5-3) pitched two perfect innings. Houston pitchers retired 15 straight before Aaron Judge's one-out single in the eighth.
TRAINING ROOM
Yankees: LHP CC Sabathia (strained left hamstring) is expected to come off the disabled list to start Tuesday at home against Toronto, Girardi said. ... RHP Adam Warren (right shoulder inflammation) is likely to be activated from the DL Tuesday after throwing a simulated game Sunday. "I thought he looked fine to me," Girardi said.
Astros: RHP Charlie Morton (right lat strain) allowed two runs - none earned - and one hit with five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings Sunday in his third rehab start at Double-A Corpus Christi.
UP NEXT
Yankees: RHP Masahiro Tanaka (6-7) is to start Monday against Toronto. He allowed two runs over six innings to win at the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday after a stretch in which he went 0-6 in eight starts.
Astros: RHP Brad Peacock (5-1) is to start Tuesday at Atlanta. Peacock struck out seven Thursday in beating Oakland but tied a career high with six walks. He allowed one run in five innings.
NO DERBY
Correa, who has 17 home runs, declined an invitation to participate in the All-Star Home Run Derby on July 11 in Miami.
NEW YORK
The Yankees traded RHP Matt Wotherspoon to the Baltimore for international signing bonus pool money.
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