The Yankees had gone eight fruitless innings without scoring a run, their swooning offense looking mostly lifeless and unimposing. Then, in the ninth, the Houston Astros called on a familiar face: Oliver Perez.
Remember him, Mets fans? Of course. Perez has largely resurrected his career since his ignominious five years in Queens, the last two of which he finished with an E.R.A. of 6.81. But flashbacks were in order Monday. Perez’s long, jerky motion has quieted, but his wildness returned. He walked the bases loaded without recording an out.
That set up Carlos Beltran’s game-ending sacrifice fly, on the first pitch from Chad Qualls, allowing the Yankees to sneak by, 1-0, at Yankee Stadium.