The Yankees were unable to close out the ALCS in Houston Friday night, falling 7-1 to the Astros in Game 6 to set up a winner-take-all Game 7.

Houston starter Justin Verlander pitched seven scoreless innings for his second win of the series.

The Astros got on the board first in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring three runs off Yankees starter Luis Severino. The big hit of the inning was a two-run single by Jose Altuve, which drove in the second and third runs of the inning.

The lead held up until the top of the eighth, when Yankees slugger Aaron Judge socked his third home run of the series off Houston reliever Brad Peacock to cut the lead to 3-1.

The Yankees, though, would get no closer, and the Astros would add four more runs off the Yankees' bullpen in the bottom of the eighth, on a solo home run by Altuve, a two-run double by Alex Bregman and a sacrifice fly by Evan Gattis.

New York did have a chance to cut into the lead in the top of the seventh against Verlander. With two on and one out, and the Astros leading 3-0, Houston's George Springer made a leaping catch at the wall to rob Todd Frazier of an extra-base hit. Verlander then got Chase Headley to ground out to end the inning.

Houston's win evens the series at 3 games apiece.

The first pitch of Saturday night's winner-take-all Game 7 will take place shortly after 8 p.m. CC Sabathia will start for the Yankees, while Charlie Morton will pitch for Houston.