Carlos Rodón started and pitched six innings while giving up just one run. Combined with crucial home runs by Ryan McMahon and Trent Grisham, the New York Yankees triumphed 8-4 away at the Houston Astros, winning the series 2-1. With this victory, Rodón earned his 16th win, leading the American League and surpassing fellow lefty teammate Max Fried by one win, ranking him second in the AL wins chart.

The Yankees got on the board in the top of the second inning through their bottom three hitters. Austin Wells walked, Anthony Volpe singled, and then McMahon’s timely hit gave the team the first run. However, in the bottom of the third, Cuban slugger Yordan Álvarez hit his second home run since returning from injury, tying the game for the home team.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Yankees' offense surged again. McMahon led off with a solo home run, putting the Yankees ahead 2-1. This homer sparked a rally where five consecutive batters reached base, resulting in three runs scored that inning and a 4-1 lead. In the top of the eighth, after McMahon recorded his third hit of the game and an insurance run, Grisham followed with a three-run homer that completely crushed the Astros’ comeback hopes.

Despite the Astros scoring one run in the bottom of the ninth on three hits and a walk with the bases loaded, Yankees closer David Bednar steadied himself and struck out both Correa and Christian Walker consecutively to end the game.

Rodón delivered a solid performance, throwing 109 pitches over six innings, allowing only three hits and two runs, one of which was earned, and left with a two-run lead. Álvarez’s solo homer in the third was the only earned run charged to Rodón. In the sixth inning, the Astros scored a run on Álvarez’s double, McMahon’s defensive error, and Carlos Correa’s ground ball, but this run was unearned against Rodón. He improved his personal record to 16-7 and lowered his ERA slightly from 3.18 to 3.12. Besides leading the AL in wins, he is tied with Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta for the most wins in the major leagues.

After this game, the Yankees hold a 78-62 record, trailing the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays by three games but maintaining a half-game lead over their rival, the Boston Red Sox, who are in third place. The Astros, with a 77-64 record, still lead the AL West but have been cut to a 3.5-game lead over the Seattle Mariners chasing them.