Astros top Yanks for 2-1 lead in ALCS

NEW YORK (AP) _ The Houston Astros now have back-to-back victories since opening the American League Championship Series with a 7-0 loss to the New York Yankees.

Gerrit Cole tossed seven shutout innings today and the Astros homered twice in a 4-1 win over the Yankees in the Bronx. Cole struck out seven and worked around five walks by holding New York to four hits.

The right-hander has won his last 19 decisions since allowing six runs over five innings of a 9-4 loss to the White Sox on May 22. Cole is 3-0 with 32 strikeouts and a 0.40 ERA in three starts this postseason.

Jose Altuve (al-TOO’-vay) and Josh Reddick hit solo homers off losing pitcher Luis Severino, who gave up five hits over 4 1/3 innings. Altuve opened the scoring two batters into the game and provided two of the Astros’ seven hits. Reddick added a second-inning blast to make it 2-0.

Altuve also scored on a wild pitch in the seventh before Yuli Gurriel (YOO’-lee gur-ee-EHL’) lifted a sacrifice fly later in the inning.

The Yankees were blanked until red-hot Gleyber (GLAY’-bur) Torres homered off Joe Smith. Torres is 5-12 with two home runs and six RBIs in the series after hitting .417 with a home run, three doubles and four ribbies in the division series against the Twins.

Game 4 is Wednesday in the Bronx. Both managers have said they will make it a bullpen day.