HOUSTON – Aaron Judge’s latest birthday homer was all the Yankees could muster on Sunday against Astros‘ starter Spencer Arrighetti.

The right-handed Arrighetti tossed a strong seven innings, and the Yanks’ eight-game winning streak ended with Houston’s 7-4 victory at Daikin Park.

With two out in the ninth, the Yanks received RBI doubles by Paul Goldschmidt and J.C. Escarra, and an RBI single by Ryan McMahon, but Jose Caballero lined out with the tying run on deck.

Of greater concern for the Yankees is Luis Gil’s continued lack of swing-and-miss stuff. The right-hander lasted just four innings, charged with six runs on five hits – including two homers – with three walks and zero strikeouts.

Before Sunday’s game, there was a lot of buzz about Saturday evening’s surprising developments with the last-place Red Sox.

Aaron Boone said had already spoken to his good friend Alex Cora, fired as Boston’s manager along with several of his coaches.

“Had a really good talk with him last night. He’s going to be fine and great,’’ said the Yanks’ manager. “He’ll have many opportunities to do whatever he wants to.’’

Boone referenced Cora’s “stature in the game,’’ and the connection of the Red Sox-Yanks rivalry as part of his motivation to reach out, as well as their longtime personal friendship.

“Honestly caught us all off guard,’’ Boone said of Cora’s dismissal.

A lack of swing and miss

Luis Gil faced 20 Astros batters and did not strike out any. He also issued three walks and surrendered two homers.

Per MLB Statcast, of the 34 swings Houston batters took vs. Gil today, there were just three whiffs. Gil did not get one swing and miss on any of his four-seam fastballs (0-for-22) that averaged 95.4-mph.

In his four starts this year, Gil has walked 11 batters and struck out nine, not a good sign through his first 19.1 innings of 2026.

Birthday blast

Aaron Judge goes deep for the third time (all-time) on his birthday, and it’s 7-1, Houston in the sixth.

That’s Judge’s 10th homer of the year. Here are his updated stats for games played on his birthday: Batting .333 (8-for-24) with three doubles, 3 HR, 8 RBI.

7-0, Astros

Paul Blackburn yields both of Luis Gil’s inherited baserunners, plus one of his own, as Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker continue to haunt the Yanks today (they have all 7 RBI).

This hasn’t been the greatest baserunning series for either side, but especially the Astros, as Walker gets doubled off second base (on a nice catch in shallow right by Jazz Chisholm, avoiding a sliding Aaron Judge) to end the fifth.

That’s all for Luis Gil

After a walk to Carlos Correa and a sharp double to right by Yordan Alvarez to open the Houston fifth, Luis Gil’s afternoon is over.

Paul Blackburn enters with runners at second and third. It’s the shortest start by a Yankee since Gil went five innings on April 15.

Short stories, continued

After a rough start, especially on throws from shortstop, Jose Caballero has noticeably picked up his defense. He’s also been a reliable threat on the bases (10 steals) and has flashed occasional power.

Meanwhile, shortstop Anthony Volpe could return from his minor league rehab assignment (labrum surgery) by Friday at the Stadium (Volpe went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI today in the first game of a doubleheader at Scranton, which was rained out last night).

Before the game, Boone deflected a question related to playing time and roles once Volpe returns.

Caballero is “playing at a really high level,” said Boone. And “obviously, we think very highly of Anthony, too, but those are answers for another day.’’

But that day is right around the corner.

Houston leads, 4-0

The Astros are hitting some hard shots off Luis Gil in this third inning, and a two-out Yordan Alvarez line single is followed by Isaac Paredes’ two-run homer to left.

Meanwhile, Carlos Rodon has at least one more minor league rehab start (but probably two) before he’s ready to slot back into the rotation and Gil is on the shakiest ground, by far, of any Yankee starter.

Short stories

Another very good play by shortstop Jose Caballero on a hard-hit, difficult grounder to his right off the bat of Carlos Correa, and another strong throw to first.

More on that in a moment…

It’s Aaron Judge’s birthday

And he’s homered twice on his birthday (2017, 2022) but is 0-for-2 so far on his 34th. Judge lifts a fly out to left, stranding runners at first and second to end the visiting third inning. Astros lead, 2-0.

Judge has not homered on this road trip (this is the sixth game). The last time he went deep was last Sunday, vs. the Royals at the Stadium.

Another lost Jazz challenge

This one comes on a 2-1 pitch by Spencer Arrighetti (confirmed a strike) with one out, none on base in the second inning.

Chisholm still gets a base hit during this at-bat, but you get the feeling Boone is due for one of his “firm” conversations with the second baseman about ABS.

That’s the seventh ABS challenge by Chisholm and he’s lost six of them. Boone mentioned he reserves the right to tell a player not to challenge, but he’s not there with anyone. Yet.

That was crushed

A strike away from getting out of the first inning, Luis Gil surrenders a 432-foot, two-run homer to Christian Walker for a 2-0 Houston lead.

Walker clubbed a full-count changeup. Gil follows by hitting Cam Smith with a 3-1 sinker. He began by walking leadoff hitter Carlos Correa on four pitches.

But the inning ends with the Yanks’ third successful pickoff in three games, after a replay challenge. That gets Gil out of the first at 27 pitches, with suspect command at the start.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees’ eight-game winning streak ends at Houston