'Explosive' Astros have long-awaited outburst

NEW YORK -- The Astros took out weeks of offensive frustration on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium, scoring five times in the first inning en route to a 15-1 drubbing of the Yankees in which they scored as many runs as they had in their previous seven games combined.

It was the kind of offensive outburst the Astros haven't seen in quite some time. It was the most runs they've scored in a game since April 9, 2013, at Seattle, and the 14-run margin of victory was their largest since an 18-4 win over St. Louis on Aug. 3, 2010. Not bad for an offense that had a .201 batting average in its previous 19 games.

"We needed an offensive outburst like that," manager A.J. Hinch said. "The first inning, obviously, set the tone. We hadn't played a game like that in a long time, really on either side. It's obviously better to be on our side than the other side. Quite an offensive night for us. We are explosive, but we were able to get a lead and relax a little bit."

The Astros rallied for five runs in the first after two outs, including an RBI double by Carlos Gomez (2-for-6) and a two-run double by Luis Valbuena. Then Houston played some long ball, with Evan Gattis and Marwin Gonzalez going deep in the fifth, and Gomez hitting a three-run homer in the seventh.

Video: HOU@NYY: Astros plate six runs in the 7th inning

"For three weeks that I've been here and we not make a lot of runs like that, and not swinging like I did today," said Gomez, acquired in a trade from the Brewers last month. "I got like six at-bats and I put like four contact really hard, so that made me feel good. Come tomorrow and continue the same approach."

The Astros were 7-for-15 with runners in scoring position, with the Nos. 4-8 hitters in their batting order combining for 14 RBIs. They also tied a season high by walking eight times, and they had eight extra-base hits after not having any in Monday's 1-0 loss.

"The at-bats were better and better," Hinch said. "Obviously, it's not easier to get hits or easier to do damage when you have the lead, but sometimes these nights are contagious like that. I was proud of our guys to keep trying to put up quality at-bats."

Interestingly, the Astros were unable to score in the eighth and ninth with second baseman Brendan Ryan on the mound.