Juan Soto's RBI single in 9th gives Yankees sweep of Astros - ESPN

HOUSTON — Juan Soto had three hits capped by an RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning that lifted the New York Yankees to a 4-3 win Sunday that completed an opening four-game sweep of the Houston Astros.

With the score 3-3, Gleyber Torres singled off closer Josh Hader (0-1) with two outs in the ninth inning and stole second base. Soto then singled on a line drive to left field.

«It just put a bow on the series of what we saw in his at-bats,» manager Aaron Boone said.

Soto hit .529 (9-for-17) with four RBIs in his first games with the Yankees after his trade from San Diego, helping New York to its first 4-0 start since 2003 and just its fourth since 1950.

«That's the kind of start I wanted,» Soto said with a laugh. «I grinded really hard this offseason and in spring training to be successful in the beginning of the season.»

The Astros had a shot to tie it in the bottom of the inning against Clay Holmes. Jeremy Pena and pinch hitter Victor Caratini singled and Jose Altuve hit a hard grounder that third baseman Jon Berti snagged with a dive before scrambling to third for a forceout.

Yordan Alvarez hit a drive 2 inches foul of the left-field line and followed with a fly that advanced pinch runner Mauricio Dubon to third. Alex Verdugo made a sliding catch in left field on a ball hit by Kyle Tucker to end it and give Holmes his third save.

«It's just a lot of fun watching these guys continue to compete, and it's happening on both sides of the ball,» Boone said.

Nick Burdi (1-0) got the last two outs of the eighth for his first big league win since April 17, 2019, for Pittsburgh against Detroit. Yankees relievers pitched 15⅓ scoreless innings in the series.

Altuve homered and doubled for the Astros, who are 0-4 for the