Juan Soto throws out runner in 9th of Yankees' debut, 5-4 win over Astros

New York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes reacts after giving up a two-run single to Houston Astros’ Chas McCormick during the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

HOUSTON (AP) — Juan Soto threw out the potential tying run at the plate in the ninth inning of his Yankees debut after starting New York’s comeback from a four-run deficit in a season-opening 5-4 win over the Houston Astros on Thursday.

Oswaldo Cabrera homered and Aaron Judge doubled and scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning as the Yankees went ahead.

Mauricio Dubón and Yordan Alvarez singled off Clay Holmes to give the Astros two on with one out in the ninth. Kyle Tucker lined a single to right and Soto, an All-Star acquired from San Diego in a December trade, made a one-hop throw slightly up the third-base line. Catcher Jose Trevino made a sweep tag and caught Dubón’s left arm just before the runner’s finger touched the plate. Umpire James Hoye’s call was upheld in a video review.

New York Yankees’ Juan Soto hits an RBI single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

Alex Bregman grounded into a forceout as Holmes got the save.

Joe Espada, in his first game since replacing Dusty Baker as Astros manager, tapped former closer Ryan Pressly to pitch the seventh in Pressly’s first appearance in that inning since the 2021 World Series.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez celebrates after a double play got him out of a bases-loaded jam during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

Judge greeted him with a double to the left-field corner and scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by Alex Verdugo, who like Soto was making his Yankees debut.

Chas McCormick hit a two-run single in a three-run first and Jake Meyers homered in the second off Nestor Cortes, who was limited to one major league appearance after May because of a strained left rotator cuff.

Jonathan Loáisiga (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win.

Astros starter Framber Valdez was charged with three runs in 4 2/3 innings, getting double plays to end three of the first four innings. Cabrera hit a tying home run off Rafael Montero in the sixth.

New York Yankees’ Anthony Rizzo hits the ground after being hit by a pitch from Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

Anthony Rizzo was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the fifth, his 214th time hit — 60 more than any other active player.

Houston Astros’ Jake Meyers celebrates after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

The Yankees debuted a new road uniform for the first time since 1973. It wasn’t a big change but did remove the white piping from around the letters and numbers on their jerseys.

Houston reliever Bryan Abreu served the first of a two-game suspension for intentionally throwing at Texas star Adolis García in last year’s AL Championship Series.

___

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