Yankees bounce back after shaky opener against Astros

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Astros	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	4	9	0
Yankees	1	0	1	0	2	0	0	3	x	7	15	0

R

H

E

Astros

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

2

4

9

0

Yankees

1

0

1

0

2

0

0

3

x

7

15

0

R

H

E

Astros

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

2

4

9

0

Yankees

1

0

1

0

2

0

0

3

x

7

15

0

Hiroki Kuroda pitches against the Astros on Tuesday.  (Getty Images)

The Yankees were able to defeat the Astros 7-4 on Tuesday, one night after they were blown out by the worst team in the American League. Hiroki Kuroda struggled with his command early on, but did not allow a run even though his pitch count was elevated early. Travis Hafner carried the Yankees offense with three runs batted in tonight.

Hiroki Kuroda allowed no runs on four hits in seven innings of work. He struck out eight, but walked four. He finished his outing with 108 pitches thrown, in which 71 of them were for strikes.

Travis Hafner was red hot tonight as he collected three hits in four at-bats and drove in three runs. Brennan Boesch, Lyle Overbay, Jayson Nix, and Chris Stewart drove in the other four runs in the win tonight.

Mariano Rivera came on in the ninth inning and collected his tenth save in ten opportunities.

The Yankees and Astros will conclude their three game set tomorrow night.

Yankees place Kevin Youkilis on the disabled list

The Yankees have announced on Tuesday that they have placed infielder Kevin Youkilis on the 15-day disabled list with a lumbar spine sprain.

Kevin Youkilis missed six days before being inserted into the lineup on Saturday against the Blue Jays. He was hitless in three at-bats and hasn't been in the lineup since.

Youkilis underwent an MRI on Monday and the results came back negative. He was given an epidural injection on Tuesday to alleviate the pain. Yankee Manager Joe Girardi said that Youkilis is expected to begin baseball activities in seven to ten days.

The Yankees have recalled infielder Corbin Joeseph from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to replace Youkilis.

Game 28: Astros at Yankees

Game 28: Astros at Yankees
April 30th, 2013, 7:05 pm ET, Yankee Stadium

TV: YES Network Radio: WCBS 880

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 66 Degrees, Wind: E at 9 MPH

After being blown out by the Astros in the opener last night, the Yankees look to get back on track in the middle game of their three game set.

Click Here for the Probable Pitches for this series.

Here are the lineups:

Astros (8-18)
Robbie Grossman, CF

Jose Altuve, 2B
Jason Castro, C
Carlos Pena, 1B
Chris Carter, DH
Rick Ankiel, RF
Matt Dominguez, 3B
Brandon Barnes, LF
Marwin Gonzalez, SS

Pitching: Philip Humber RHP (0-5, 7.99 ERA this season)
(Philip Humber against the Yankees: Click Here)

Yankees (15-10)
Brett Gardner, CF
Ichiro Suzuki, LF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Travis Hafner, DH
Brennan Boesch, RF
Jayson Nix, 3B
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Eduardo Nunez, SS
Chris Stewart, C

Pitching: Hiroki Kuroda RHP (3-1, 2.79 ERA this season)
(Hiroki Kuroda against the Astros: Click Here)

Enjoy the game!

Pettitte, Yanks' get rocked by Astros

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Astros	3	0	0	2	4	0	0	0	0	9	17	0
Yankees	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	8	0

R

H

E

Astros

3

0

0

2

4

0

0

0

0

9

17

0

Yankees

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

1

8

0

R

H

E

Astros

3

0

0

2

4

0

0

0

0

9

17

0

Yankees

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

1

8

0

Andy Pettitte pitches against the Astros on Monday. (Getty Images)

Andy Pettitte and the Yankees were unable to defeat the worst team in the American League, the Houston Astros, on Monday as they were defeated 9-1. Andy Pettitte struggled throughout the game and only lasted four and a third innings. He struggled with his command and he really didn't have a feel for any of his pitches.

Pettitte allowed seven runs on ten hits in four and a third innings of work. He struck out three batters and walked only one. He ended his worst outing of the season with 91 pitches thrown, in which 63 of them were for strikes.

The Yankee offense was silenced by the Astros in the losing effort tonight. Vernon Wells drove in their only run with a bloop single to center field in the sixth inning.

The Yankees and Astros will continue their three game set tomorrow night.

Game 27: Astros at Yankees

Game 27: Astros at Yankees
April 29th, 2013, 7:05 pm ET, Yankee Stadium

TV: YES Network Radio: WCBS 880

Weather: Showers Early, 58 Degrees, Wind: ESE at 11 MPH

The Yankees and Astros will play the first of three at Yankee Stadium tonight.

Click Here for the Probable Pitchers for this series.

Here are the lineups:

Astros (7-18)
Jose Altuve, 2B
Brandon Barnes, RF
Brandon Laird, 1B
Chris Carter, LF
Carlos Pena, DH
Ronny Cedeno, SS
Carlos Corporan, C
Matt Dominguez, 3B
Robbie Grossman, CF

Pitching: Lucas Harrell RHP (2-2, 4.08 ERA this season)
(Lucas Harrell against the Yankees: Click Here)

Yankees (15-9)
Brett Gardner, CF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Vernon Wells, LF
Travis Hafner, DH
Brennan Boesch, RF
Jayson Nix, 3B
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Eduardo Nunez, SS
Austin Romine, C

Pitching: Andy Pettitte LHP (3-1, 2.22 ERA this season)
(Andy Pettitte against the Astros: Click Here)

Enjoy the game!