Jeter belts 2 homers, Posada a Grand Slam as Yanks crush 'Stros 9-3

(39-23) Yankees - 9, (25-28) Astros - 3
W - Javier Vazquez (6-5)
L - Wandy Rodriguez (3-9)
HR: (NYY) Derek Jeter 2 (7, 8) Jorge Posada (7, gr. slam)
(HOU) Hunter Pence (10)

While the home runs overshadow today's win, one can easily forget about how well Javier Vazquez pitched today. Over 7 innings, Vazquez gave up 3 runs, 6 hits, 2 HR, and got 6 strike outs on way to another quality start for the Yankees' pitcher. Over his last 7 starts, Vazquez has been dominating, going 5-2 with a 2.93 ERA, after starting out 1-5. Derek Jeter led off the game in the bottom of the 1st inning with a solo home run, staking the Yankees to an early 1-0 lead. As if almost to say "take that," Hunter Pence sent a solo homer out in the top of the 2nd inning to tie it 1-1. After giving up another run, it was 2-1 Astros. That would all change in the 3rd inning when Jorge Posada sent a pitch into the right field seats for a grand slam to give the Yanks a 6-2 lead from which they would never look back. As if to increase the damage, the killing blow came when Derek Jeter hit his 2nd homer of the game, a 3-run shot in the 6th, to make it 9-3. The Yankees go for the sweep of the Astros tomorrow before the defending National League champion Phillies come to town. Stay tuned.