NEW YORK -- Not even the highest-scoring team in the Major Leagues could do much to slow down Astros ace Justin Verlander.
Verlander, making his 12th start of the season, held the Yankees to one run -- a seventh-inning homer by Greg Bird -- and five hits in 6 2/3 innings and won his third consecutive start in a 5-1 victory at Yankee Stadium. The Astros have won 14 of their last 19 games.
Astros rookie J.D. Davis slugged a towering three-run homer in the second inning off Yankees starter Domingo German, scoring Marwin Gonzalez and Evan Gattis for a 3-0 lead.