Yankees 16, Astros 6
NEW YORK -- Starlin Castro fell a triple shy of the cycle and drove in five runs as the New York Yankees scored 12 times in the first three innings of a 16-6 victory over the Houston Astros Wednesday night.
After getting a two-run double off Dallas Keuchel Tuesday, Castro singled during New York's six-run first inning and added a three-run home run in the second. He doubled in the sixth and then added an RBI single in the seventh.
Castro came within one of his career high for RBIs and recorded his 12th career four-hit game.
Mark Teixeira also drove in four runs for the Yankees. He began the six-run first off Collin McHugh (0-1) with an RBI single and added a three-run home run in the third.
Brian McCann added a two-run double while Carlos Beltran also drove in two runs with a groundout and a home run in the sixth. Chase Headley had a run-scoring base hit before Castro's first RBI.
Pinch hitter Ronald Torreyes contributed a two-run triple in the seventh ahead of Castro's fourth hit.
Carlos Correa recorded his third career multi-homer game with solo shots in the first and fifth off Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda (1-0) and also had a pair of singles for his first career four-hit game. George Springer hit first career grand slam in the second inning off Pineda.
Pineda benefited from the support and picked up the win despite allowing six runs and eight hits in five innings.
McHugh recorded one out and was charged with six runs (five earned) and gave up three hits.
The teams combined for 18 runs and 18 hits during the first five innings.
The Astros jumped ahead when Correa drove a 2-0 pitch into the left-field seats with two outs in the first.
The Yankees sent 12 men to the plate and scored six times during a 36-minute first. New York loaded the bases on catcher's interference and two walks before taking a 3-1 lead on a single by Teixeira and a two-run double by McCann.
New York added another run on a groundout by Beltran and, following an RBI single by Headley on the 11th pitch, McHugh was replaced by Michael Feliz. Feliz then gave up an RBI single to Castro before getting out of a bases-loaded jam.
After the Yankees' big inning, the Astros loaded the bases with two outs in the second when Pineda hit Jose Altuve with a pitch. Two pitches later, Springer drove a 1-0 breaking ball deep into the left-field seats for his first career grand slam.
Castro then gave the Yankees more breathing room by sending a 1-1 changeup into the left-field seats, extending the lead to 9-5 with two outs. With one out in the third, Teixeira drove a 1-0 pitch into the second deck in right field and the Yankees went up 12-5.
Correa made it 12-6 when he opened the fifth by sending a 1-1 pitch over the center-field fence.
NOTES: Manager Joe Girardi said the Yankees will not file a formal protest about Houston SS Carlos Correa not being called for interference during the eighth inning on Tuesday. "Our feeling was that the rules stated that it's in the umpires judgement if the first baseman can catch (the ball)," Girardi said. "I'm still not crazy about the rule. ... Houston DH Evan Gattis (sports hernia) will start a rehab assignment on Thursday and get three to four at-bats as a designated hitter for Double-A Corpus Christi. ... Houston RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (sore shoulder) threw around 30 pitches in a simulated game in extended spring training on Wednesday and the team will decide next week on the next step. ... New York City mayor Bill de Blasio signed a legislation banning all tobacco from city sports venues, including smokeless tobacco. "It's something they're going to have to get used to," Girardi said. ... Heavy rain is projected for Thursday night, but neither team has started thinking about its starting pitching plans should the game get rained out.