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BASEBALL

Jordan Montgomery Looks To Keep It Going As He Makes His First Start Against Oakland As New York Looks To Rebound

One thing that hasn't changed this season  for New York rookie Jordan Montgomery is making his first start against a team in the major leagues.

Thursday he will make his first against Oakland at Oakland-Alameda Coliseum when New York takes on Oakland as they will look to rebound from their series loss to Los Angeles in Anaheim. 

Jordan Montgomery is pitching his best baseball of the season, and the left-hander looks to keep it going on Thursday night as he gets the start for the Yankees when they visit Oakland Coliseum in the first game of a four-game series with the A's. Right-hander Sonny Gray will oppose him on the mound for Oakland. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/236419652/montgomery-gray-launch-set-at-the-coliseum/?topicId=26688836

In two starts this month, Montgomery is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA, and he has struck out 13 batters over 13 innings while walking only four and allowing just two runs. In stints at Toronto and at home against Baltimore, Montgomery had a 0.92 WHIP and opposing batters hit just .174 against him. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/236419652/montgomery-gray-launch-set-at-the-coliseum/?topicId=26688836

Pitching his best baseball at home, Gray looks to improve on his 2-0 mark and 2.92 ERA over four starts this season at the Coliseum. Against the Yankees, the right-hander is 1-2 with a 4.44 ERA over four career starts. In 24 1/3 innings, Gray has struck out 20 Yanks batters while yielding 23 hits, including one home run (Chris Carter). "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/236419652/montgomery-gray-launch-set-at-the-coliseum/?topicId=26688836

Left-handed hitters are batting just .220 against Gray, but right-handers have compiled a .286 average against him. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/236419652/montgomery-gray-launch-set-at-the-coliseum/?topicId=26688836

Gray has been dominant in the early innings. He has a 1.13 ERA over the first and second innings this season, but a 6.03 ERA from the third inning on. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/236419652/montgomery-gray-launch-set-at-the-coliseum/?topicId=26688836

 Montgomery is making his first career appearance against the A's. He is 3-3 lifetime against American League teams (1-1 vs. National League teams). "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/236419652/montgomery-gray-launch-set-at-the-coliseum/?topicId=26688836

As for New York's last game, they lost the series to Los Angeles on Wednesday by a score of 7-5 in Anaheim California.

 New York catcher Gary Sanchez had a big game Wednesday but it still wasn't enough as Los Angeles rallied to win the series. 

Andrelton Simmons smashed a go-ahead, two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Angels a 7-5 win and capture a series victory over the Yankees in front of a sellout crowd at Angel Stadium on Wednesday night. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/236532754/angels-rally-to-defeat-yankees-for-series-win/

Andrelton Simmons had this to say about the game "I'm happy for me and my team that we came back from that early deficit," Simmons said. "The bullpen kept us in the game, and we put up good at-bats. I'm just glad I got to get the team a go-ahead home run." "according to  http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/236532754/angels-rally-to-defeat-yankees-for-series-win/

New York  jumped ahead, 4-0, when Gary Sanchez crushed a three-run homer during the top of the first inning before the Angels chipped away at the deficit. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/236532754/angels-rally-to-defeat-yankees-for-series-win

Los Angeles first baseman Luis Valbuena nearly lifted a game-tying grand slam in the bottom of the first inning, but New York center fielder Aaron Hicks kept the ball in the park with a leaping grab to render the hit a one-run sacrifice fly. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/236532754/angels-rally-to-defeat-yankees-for-series-win

Danny Espinosa drilled a two-run homer in the second inning, and in the third inning Albert Pujols scored on a wild pitch and Eric Young Jr. lined a go-ahead RBI single to give the Angels a 5-4 lead. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/236532754/angels-rally-to-defeat-yankees-for-series-win

"We did a good job on the offensive end," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/236532754/angels-rally-to-defeat-yankees-for-series-win

New York who is leading the A.L East by two games over Boston falls to 38-27 while Los Angeles improves to 35-34 on the season. 

Meanwhile, Oakland also lost their series to Miami Wednesday dropping to 27-38 on the season. 

Marcell Ozuna is doing all he can to help his All-Star Game bid. The Marlins' outfielder clubbed his 17th homer -- and his second in as many days -- and drove in three runs in Miami's 11-6 win over the A's on Wednesday afternoon at Marlins Park. "according to http://m.athletics.mlb.com/news/article/236446156/marlins-slug-past-as-led-by-marcell-ozuna/

"He's been unreal this year," Marlins outfielder Christian Yelich said of Ozuna. "Definitely one of the best players in baseball." "according to http://m.athletics.mlb.com/news/article/236446156/marlins-slug-past-as-led-by-marcell-ozuna/

"I think O's homer is huge right away, because it kind of gets you started," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "Right then you're down four and all of a sudden it's three. So that one was an important one. It didn't seem huge at the time, but in my mind it lets everyone know we're in this game." "according to http://m.athletics.mlb.com/news/article/236446156/marlins-slug-past-as-led-by-marcell-ozuna/

Edinson Volquez who yielded five runs (four earned) and walked four -- was lifted after a fourth inning that saw Jed Lowrie double home a run to give the A's a 5-4 lead. It didn't last long. Miami's Tomes Telis roped a pinch-hit RBI double in the bottom half before Dee Gorden's  run-scoring single gave his club a lead it wouldn't relinquish. Miami (29-35) has won eight of its last 12 and sits a half-game behind the Mets in third place in the NL East. "according to http://m.athletics.mlb.com/news/article/236446156/marlins-slug-past-as-led-by-marcell-ozuna/

The A's dropped their sixth game in the last seven and fall to a season-high 11 games under .500. They have the worst record in the American League (27-38). Oakland finishes the road trip 1-5 and for the season is now 9-25 away from home. The A's have now lost nine consecutive road series for the first time since 1986. "according to http://m.athletics.mlb.com/news/article/236446156/marlins-slug-past-as-led-by-marcell-ozuna/

Oakland right fielder Matt Joyce left the game in the third inning with a laceration under his chin. He collided with first baseman Yonder Alonso an inning earlier when the two chased a pop fly in shallow right field. Alonso was also attended to by trainers but remained in the game. "according to http://m.athletics.mlb.com/news/article/236446156/marlins-slug-past-as-led-by-marcell-ozuna/

"He had three stitches in his chin," said manager Bob Melvin, who added he didn't believe that Joyce would miss any playing time. "As of right now, I don't think so." according to http://m.athletics.mlb.com/news/article/236446156/marlins-slug-past-as-led-by-marcell-ozuna/

New York rookie left-hander Jordan Montgomery who has a record of 4-4 with a 3.55 earn run average. The rookie is making his 12th big league start and the next few will be even more important with CC Sabathia likely on the disabled list with a left hamstring strain. He has won his last two starts against Baltimore and Toronto. He will go up against Oakland right -hander Sonny Gray who has a record of 2-2 with a 4.37 earn run average. He will make his third start of June. He has yet to record a decision in the month despite, 13 innings pitched, allowing five earned runs. He struck out 16 over that span, including 10 in his last outing against Tampa Bay. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-athletics/2017/06/15/491095#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491095

Will New York be able to rebound from their loss to Los Angeles Wednesday where they had the lead before Los Angeles rallied and won the game 5-4? If New York does get the lead in the series opener against Oakland will they be able to hold on to it? Will Jordan Montgomery pitch well enough to give his team a chance to win? Will Oakland be able to get runs off Jordan Montgomery? 

First pitch is set for 10:05 pm. The game will be televised on Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-athletics/2017/06/15/491095#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491095