Yankees slug 4 HRs, extend winning streak to 7 games with 12-4 win over Astros

HOUSTON (AP) — Infielders Jazz Chisholm Jr., Ryan McMahon, Ben Rice and José Caballero each homered and the New York Yankees extended their winning streak to seven games with a 12-4 win over the Houston Astros on Friday night.

They became the third group of starting infielders to accomplish the feat for the Yankees, following Babe Dahlgren, Joe Gordon, Frankie Crosetti and Red Rolfe in 1939, and Mark Teixeira, Robinson Canó, Eduardo Núñez and Ramiro Peña in 2011.

Chisholm, who had four RBIs and scored three runs, hit his second homer of the season and second in two days. His two-run single capped a three-run first inning and he added his homer in the fourth. He had an RBI single in the seventh.

McMahon hit a solo home run in the second, and Rice, who had two RBIs and scored three runs, added a solo shot, his ninth of the season, in the seventh. Caballero, who had an RBI single in the sixth, hit a solo homer in the four-run seventh.

Giancarlo Stanton had an RBI single in the sixth before exiting three batters later with right lower leg tightness after being unable to score from second on a J.C. Escarra single to the left field wall. After being checked out by a trainer, Stanton left and was replaced by Randal Grichuk.

Aaron Judge went 0 for 2 with three walks for the AL-leading Yankees (17-9).

Will Warren (3-0) allowed two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts in six innings. Warren has allowed two runs or fewer in five of his six starts this season.

Lance McCullers Jr. (1-2) allowed seven runs — five earned — on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts in five innings. McCullers has yielded at least four runs in each of his last three starts.

Yainer Diaz had an RBI single and a solo home run, and Braden Shewmake hit a solo shot for the Astros, who lost their fifth straight at home. Yordan Alvarez had two singles to extend his hitting streak to 10 games.

Yankees LHP Ryan Weathers (1-2, 3.18 ERA) will start opposite Astros RHP Mike Burrows (1-3, 6.75) in the second game of the three-game set on Saturday night.

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

Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. reacts after giving up a home run to New York Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/ Karen Warren)

Houston Astros' Yainer Diaz hits an RBI single against New York Yankees starting pitcher Will Warren during the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/ Karen Warren)

New York Yankees' Randal Grichuk scores a run on Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s RBI single during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/ Karen Warren)

New York Yankees' Ben Rice, left, celebrates after his home run with Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

New York Yankees' José Caballero (72) hits a home run against Houston Astros relief pitcher Colton Gordon during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/ Karen Warren)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Athletics got off to a fast start against Texas on Friday night, hitting three solo home runs in the first inning and adding two later in their 8-1 win over the Rangers.

Nick Kurtz, Carlos Cortes and Tyler Soderstrom each hit a ball over the outfield wall — just seven pitches into the game – all off 15-season veteran Nathan Eovaldi.

“Three runs on the board is huge,” said Cortes, who also homered off Eovaldi in the fifth with two runners on. “That guy’s a legend, great pitcher. I just felt good today. Excited to come through in some big situations.”

Kurtz launched Eovaldi’s first-pitch fastball over the right-field wall. Cortes sent another shot to right, and Tyler Soderstrom homered on the first pitch he saw to straight-away center.

“It’s kind of great from pitch one to be able to put a score up on the board,” Kurtz said. “The boys followed up that with two more. It’s pretty cool. We usually get a heater, so I was looking for it, and he threw it in a place where I could hit it.”

It was the first time in franchise history the A’s homered three times in the top of the first inning, according to Elias and Sarah Langs. The last time they homered three times in the first came at home on July 8 last season against the Atlanta Braves.

Eovaldi gave up at least three homers in an inning for the fourth time in 15 big league seasons, the first time since he came to Texas in 2023. He allowed a career-high five to Houston in May 2022, while with the Boston Red Sox.

The 36-year-old right-hander had no trouble with the Athletics’ batting order when he faced them on April 13 in California, shutting them out over seven innings on three hits in an 8-1 Rangers victory. He entered Friday with a career ERA against the A’s of 2.54, his lowest against any opponent he has faced at least six times.

“We’ve had our struggles against him,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “We came out tonight and got some balls up in the zone. It’s obviously a great start when your leadoff guy hits a homer. There’s a lot of excitement, a lot of momentum.”

“Early on they were really on top of the fastball,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “First pitch of the game, obviously, their game plan was on the attack, and they executed it.”

Eovaldi's ERA is 5.79 through six starts after compiling a career-best 1.73 last season in 22 starts. He said he's struggling with pitch location.

“Lately I’ve just been middle-middle, middle-away, middle-in," he said.

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

Athletics' Zack Gelof is greeted in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run off Texas Rangers pitcher Cal Quantrill during the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 24, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Athletics' Carlos Cortes, left, is greeted by Jacob Wilson after hitting a solo home run off Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 24, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Athletics' Nick Kurtz reacts after hitting a solo home run on the first pitch of the game against Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi during a baseball game Friday, April 24, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom swings at a pitch from Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi while connecting on a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 24, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi throws to the Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 24, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Athletics' Carlos Cortes reacts while running the bases after hitting a solo home run off Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 24, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Athletics' Nick Kurtz runs to the dugout after hitting a leadoff home run on the first pitch from Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 24, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)