Soto, Judge and Stanton homer in same game with Yankees for 1st time during 9-4 win over Astros

NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto homered and drove in five runs, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton also went deep and the New York Yankees beat the Houston Astros 9-4 on Wednesday night.

It was the first time the power trio all connected in the same game for the Yankees, who won their fifth straight and improved to 6-0 against the Astros this season.

“That certainly puts a smile on your face when those three guys do that,” New York manager Aaron Boone said.

Stanton hit a 119.9 mph rocket into the second deck that was the hardest-hit ball in the majors this year.

“We all know how capable we are and when you have nights like that, it’s great,” Soto said.

New York starter Carlos Rodón (3-2) bounced back from his worst outing of the season last week in Baltimore. He allowed two runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings, earning a nice hand from the home crowd.

Kyle Tucker and Jeremy Peña homered for the Astros, who lost their fourth in a row and dropped to 12-24.

Soto launched a two-run homer on the first pitch he saw in the first inning. He connected for a 440-foot drive on a fastball from Houston rookie Spencer Arrighetti (0-4), sending his 10th homer off an advertisement at the back of the Astros’ bullpen in left-center field.

“I feel like when I’m hitting the ball that way and I’m in my best path and my swing is in the best spot, it's everything that I’ve been asking for with all my practices and everything,” Soto said.

Judge lined a 404-foot shot to right-center to open the third. Two batters later, Stanton’s 447-foot solo drive stayed fair inside the left-field foul pole.

It was Stanton’s third hardest-hit homer since Statcast tracking began in 2015, and it came one night after he launched a 118.8 mph homer off Justin Verlander.

“I feel like the night before he had the hardest hit in baseball,” Judge said. “Then he outdid himself again tonight. Just impressive.”

Judge’s homer was part of his second three-hit game this season. He added a pair of doubles, including a two-run double that put the Yankees up 8-1 in the sixth.

New York improved to 34-4 when Stanton and Judge homer in the same game, including the postseason.

Throw in Soto’s drive, and the trio hit a combined 1,291 feet of home runs.

New York beat the Astros for the ninth straight time dating to last year. The season series concludes Thursday at Yankee Stadium.

Since the start of last season, the Yankees are 11-2 against Houston, which eliminated them from the playoffs four times from 2015-22, including in the AL Championship Series in 2017, 2019 and 2022.

Soto also hit RBI singles in the second and eighth along with a run-scoring groundout in the sixth. He is batting .538 (14 for 26) against the Astros in his first season with the Yankees and had his fourth career game with at least five RBIs.

“He’s always been hard (to face),” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “It doesn’t matter who’s pitching. Juan Soto is a great hitter.”

Jake Meyers hit an RBI triple and Jose Altuve had an RBI double in the ninth for Houston, which got 11 hits but went 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

Arrighetti allowed five runs and eight hits in five innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: RHP Cristian Javier (neck), who pitched 3 1/3 innings Saturday in a rehab start for Double-A Corpus Christi, threw a bullpen ahead of his return to the rotation this weekend. … RHP Jose Urquidy (right forearm) and OF Chas McCormick (right hamstring) are expected to begin rehab assignments this weekend.

Yankees: RHP Tommy Kahnle (right shoulder) struck out two in one inning for Class A Tampa during his first minor league rehab appearance. Kahnle will appear in at least four more rehab games before possibly being activated. … RHP Nick Burdi (right hip), who made his first rehab appearance for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday, could be activated Friday.

UP NEXT

Houston RHP Ronel Blanco (3-0, 2.09 ERA) opposes RHP Marcus Stroman (2-1, 3.41) in Thursday’s series finale.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Houston Astros pitcher Spencer Arrighetti throws to a New York Yankees batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto beats Houston Astros pitcher Spencer Arrighetti to first base for a run-scoring infield single during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz, left, talks to pitcher Spencer Arrighetti after New York Yankees' Anthony Volpe walked to load the bases during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge celebrates with Gleyber Torres (25) after the Yankees defeated the Houston Astros in a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge watches his two-run double against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge reacts after hitting a two-run double, next to Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge gestures after hitting a home run against the Houston Astros during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Houston Astros pitcher Spencer Arrighetti walks on the mound after giving up a home run to New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton reacts after hitting a home run against the Houston Astros during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, center, Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo, left, celebrate after the Yankees defeated the Houston Astros in a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto celebrates with third base coach Luis Rojas (67) after hitting a two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto celebrates with Aaron Judge, left, after hitting a two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto throws his bat after hitting a two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

LONDON (AP) — The Premier League has never seen so many goals in a single season.

Jarell Quansah's strike for Liverpool against Wolverhampton at Anfield on Sunday took the number of goals scored in England's top flight this campaign to 1,223 — a record.

There are various factors that could be behind the increase in goals this season, including longer games because of more stoppage time, more attack-minded coaches and the weakness of the promoted teams.

The previous record of 1,222 goals in a season came in the inaugural 1992-93 Premier League campaign, when there were 22 teams in the division.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Chelsea's Moises Caicedo scores their side's first goal of the game from the half-way line during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and AFC Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge, London, Sunday May 19, 2024. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)

Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood, left, celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game with teammate Ryan Yates, during the English Premier League soccer match between Burnley and Nottingham Forest, at Turf Moor, in Burnley, England, Sunday May 19, 2024. (Richard Sellers/PA via AP)

Liverpool's Jarell Quansah, second left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, May 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)