In the first inning, both starting pitchers faced only three hitters, but New York recorded the first basehit.
C.C. Sabathia retired the side and closed with two strikeouts in the top of the first inning.
Charlie Morton began the bottom of the first inning with two strikeouts, but hereafter, Didi Gregorius reached on a nice bunt-single.
However, moments later, Gregorius was eliminated at first base via a pick-off from Morton.
After Houston had left a runner behind on first base in the top of the second inning, the Yankees struck with three runs in its second at bat.
With two outs, Starlin Castro and Aaron Hicks both singled, then scored when next hitter Todd Frazier homered to make it a 3-0 score.
In the top of the third inning, Houston got the bases loaded with two outs, but was held scoreless.
With two outs, Sabathia walked George Springer, then gave up a single to Alex Bregman.
The bases got loaded when José Altuve also walked, but the inning ended when Carlos Correa popped out.
Sabathia retired the side again in the fourth, which began with a great catch from rightfielder Aaron Judge.
Yulieski Gurriel led off and drove the ball into rightfield, where Judge made a leaping catch fo what could have been an extra-basehit.
Moments later, the Yankees rallied for five runs with two outs in the bottom of the fourth to take a commanding 8-0 lead.
Greg Bird led off with a double, then moved to third base with one out on a flyout.
Todd Frazier then walked and Chase Headley followed with a runscoring single.
Hereafter, the bases got loaded when Brett Gardner was hit by a pitch, which led to a pitching change.
Will Harris took over, but began with a runscoring wild pitch, then gave up a 3-run homerun to Aaron Judge.
Before today's game, Judge was in a big slump, hitting only 2-for-27 in the Play-Offs and had struckout 19 times.
In today's game, he again struckout twice.
In the remainder of the game, the Yankees were held scoreless.
The team was retired in order in three consecutive innings by reliever Collin McHugh and reached base again in the eighth.
After eleven batters in a row were retired (ten by McHugh), Greg Bird walked with one out in the eighth, but stranded on first base.
In the meantime, Sabathia continued his good outing.
In the fifth inning, he walked lead-off hitter Josh Reddick.
Next hitter Cameron Maybin then hit a line drive into rightfield where Aaron Judge made a diving catch.
With one out, George Springer singled, but a flyout and force out followed.
In the sixth, he again got two baserunners.
Carlos Correa led off with a single and with two outs, Marwin Gonzalez reached on a throwing error by Gregorius, but a comeback-grounder ended the at bat.
Adam Warren took over the Yankee-pitching in the seventh.
He began with a walk, but then retired the next three hitters.
Warren retired the side in the eighth.
Trailing 8-0, Houston scored its lone run in the top of the ninth.
Dellin Betances started the inning in relief for the Yankees, but he walked Marwin Gonzales and pinch-hitter Derek Fisher.
Hereafter, Tommy Kahnle, who had been successful in previous outings, took over the pitching.
He was greeted with a single by Cameron Maybin that loaded the bases, but followed with a strikeout.
A walk for next hitter Alex Bregman then accounted for the run, but the game then ended when José Altuve grounded into a double play.
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Yankees force fifth game with convincing win
THE BRONX, NEW YORK CITY, New York (USA) -
New York Yankees recorded a convincing 8-1 victory on Monday-evening (October 16) against Houston Astros in Game 3 of the best-of-seven American League Championship Series to force a fifth game.
Houston leads the Series, 2-1.
Houston won the first two games on Friday and Saturday with a small 2-1 score.
Game 4 of the Series will be played on Tuesday in The Bronx, New York.
New York struck early, thanks to a 3-run homerun by Todd Frazier in the second inning.
In the fourth, the Yankees rallied for five runs, including three on a homerun by Aaron Judge, who had slumped in the previous Play-Off games.
Houston scored its lone run in the ninth inning and was limited to only four basehits.