Masahiro Tanaka Takes The Mound In Oakland Looking To Solve New York's West Coast Woes

The west coast trip that started in Anaheim California with New York losing the series with Los Angeles taking 2-3 is now in Oakland California where Oakland has taken the first two games of a four -game series from New York. 

A pair of right-handers will face off Saturday afternoon as the A's host the Yankees for the third game of a four-game series in Oakland. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170616236858866/hahn-as-seek-series-win-over-tanaka-yanks/?game_pk=491123

Jesse Hahn (2-4, 3.56 ERA) will make his third start since returning from the disabled list with a right triceps strain. He allowed one unearned run in six innings when beating Toronto in Oakland on June 6, and he took a no-decision at Tampa Bay on June 11. Hahn threw five innings, giving up three runs on seven hits. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170616236858866/hahn-as-seek-series-win-over-tanaka-yanks/?game_pk=491123

The 27-year-old has only allowed one home run in 60 2/3 innings this season, giving him a home runs-per-nine-innings rate of 0.15, which is the lowest in all of baseball with a minimum of 60 innings pitched. The next closest pitcher, Tigers righty Michael Fulmer, is at 0.45. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170616236858866/hahn-as-seek-series-win-over-tanaka-yanks/?game_pk=491123

For the Yankees, right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (5-6, 6.07 ERA) will look to pick up his first win since May 8. Tanaka had lost five straight starts before getting a no-decision against the Angels on June 12, going 6 2/3 innings and only allowing one earned run. He gave up a total of three runs on four hits and struck out eight. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170616236858866/hahn-as-seek-series-win-over-tanaka-yanks/?game_pk=491123

Masahiro Tanaka will be charged with trying to reverse what's been a rough West Coast trip for the Yankees, who have lost four in a row for the first time this season. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170616236858866/hahn-as-seek-series-win-over-tanaka-yanks/?game_pk=491123

As for their last game, the west coast trip that started in Anaheim against Los Angeles has now shifted to Oakland as New York's bullpen continues to struggle as they can't hold on to the lead once they've got it.

The same trend continued in game two in  Oakland Friday for New York despite the rookie right fielder Aaron Judge's best effort as he hit his twenty-third home run this season.

Oakland rookie Matt Chapman picked the perfect moment for his first Major League hit, delivering a two-run single in the eighth inning that gave the A's a 7-6 win over the Yankees at the Coliseum on Friday night. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/236938528/matt-chapmans-first-hit-lifts-as-over-yanks/

In the second straight back-and-forth affair between the teams, Chapman turned on Yankees reliever Jonathan Holder's curveball and pulled it down the left-field line with the bases loaded, scoring Yonder Alonso and Ryon Healy to give the A's their second consecutive come-from-behind win. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/236938528/matt-chapmans-first-hit-lifts-as-over-yanks/

Matt Chapman had this to say about the game. 

"My approach was to get something up in the zone that I could handle and just get the ball into the outfield at the very least, get the job done and make sure we tied the game going into the ninth inning," Chapman said. "Luckily I was able to put the bat on the ball right there and get the job done." according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/236938528/matt-chapmans-first-hit-lifts-as-over-yanks/

Chapman and fellow rookies Jaycob Brugman and Chad Pinder knocked in three of the four runs the A's scored in the second, the only damage allowed by New York starter Luis Severino, who went six innings. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/236938528/matt-chapmans-first-hit-lifts-as-over-yanks/

worked their way back into the game against A's left-hander Sean Manaea, who would allow five runs in six innings. It started in the third inning with a three-run opposite-field homer from Northern California native Aaron Judge, his Major League-leading 23rd of the season. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/236938528/matt-chapmans-first-hit-lifts-as-over-yanks/

The Yankees tied it in the fifth when Mason Williams singled home Ronald Torreyes, and they took the lead when Chris Carter blasted a solo home run to center in the sixth. Manaea allowed five runs in six innings with seven strikeouts. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/236938528/matt-chapmans-first-hit-lifts-as-over-yanks/

Luis Severino walked four on the night, and the two in the second inning came back to bite him. Khris Davis and Alonso started off the second inning by drawing walks off Severino, kickstarting the big four-run inning for the A's. Davis scored on Stephen Vogt's one-out double, and Alonso scored on a Chapman groundout. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/236938528/matt-chapmans-first-hit-lifts-as-over-yanks/

New York dropped to 38-27 while Oakland improved to 29-38 on the season. New York now has a one-game lead over Boston after losing the game to Oakland while Boston downed Houston by a score of 2-1. New York and Oakland will play game three of their four-game set Saturday afternoon. 

Right -hander Masahiro Tanaka will be on the mound for New York. He has a record of 5-6 with a 6.07 earn run average. The Japanese right-hander has been brilliant at times, at others not so much. Pitching with five days off, he had a good outing this past Monday Monday against the Angels in Anaheim, allowing an earned run on four hits with eight strikeouts in 6/2/3 innings. He will go up against Oakland right -hander Jesse Hahn who has a record of 2-4 with a 3.56 earn run average. Haun broke a three -game losing streak on June 6, throwing six innings at Toronto, not allowing an earned run. He got a no-decision in his most recent outing, A five-inning stint against Tampa Bay, yielding three runs on seven hits and five strikeouts.  "accordinghttps://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-athletics/2017/06/17/491123#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491123

Will Masahiro Tanaka be able to follow up his outing on Monday in Anaheim with another good outing as he takes on Oakland? Will he be able to give his team a chance to win? Will Masahiro Tanaka be able to solve New York's woes on the west coast? Will the New York offense be able to backup his start? Will Aaron Judge hit his 24th home run of the season? Will the Oakland offense be able to get their offense going against Masahiro Tanaka? 

First pitch is set for 4:05 pm. The game will be televised on Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-athletics/2017/06/17/491123#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491123