Pitching in a less stressful sixth inning designed to help boost his confidence, Devin Williams looked like a better pitcher during the Yankees’ 7-1 loss to the Astros in The Bronx. Williams struck out the side — Chas McCormick, Jeremy Peña and Carlos Correa — on his 11 pitches (10 strikes).

Aaron Boone's decision to pitch struggling Yankees reliever Devin Williams in the 10th inning of Friday's series opener against the Houston Astros backfired.

Williams has struggled immensely in recent weeks and this season, allowing at least one earned run in eight of his last 14 games and posting a 5.73 ERA overall in his first year with the Yankees.