West Coast Skid Continues For New York In Oakland As They Lose Their 5th Straight

New York traveled from Anaheim to Oakland California where they opened up a four -game series with Oakland Thursday losing the first three. 

As for their last game, New York right -hander  Masahiro Tanaka had a Saturday afternoon that Yankees manager Joe Girardi called head-scratching. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/237054008/masahiro-tanaka-continues-to-struggle-in-loss/

Masahiro Tanaka struck out 10 batters, just the second time he's had double-digit strikeouts this season, but the righty gave up three home runs in just four innings. He finished with five runs allowed on eight hits and one walk on 82 pitches as the Yankees dropped their fifth straight, a 5-2 loss to Oakland. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/237054008/masahiro-tanaka-continues-to-struggle-in-loss/

New York manager Joe Girardi had this to say about Masahiro Tanaka's outing. 

It's something we haven't seen before," Girardi said. "The last three years, he's been really good at that and at self-correcting. For whatever reason this year, he's having a hard time doing it. But you got to go back to work." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/237054008/masahiro-tanaka-continues-to-struggle-in-loss/

Masahiro Tanaka is the first pitcher in Yankees history to strike out 10 batters in a game while pitching four innings or fewer. He's also the only pitcher in at least the last 100 years to strike out 10 and give up three or more home runs in a game while pitching four innings or fewer, which is something that irked him. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/237054008/masahiro-tanaka-continues-to-struggle-in-loss/

"It's very frustrating," Tanaka said. "You look at how we played, and we've used a lot of the relievers, so obviously I wanted to go deep into the game, eat up some innings. But I wasn't able to do that. I wasn't able to do a good job." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/237054008/masahiro-tanaka-continues-to-struggle-in-loss/

Tanaka gave up a home run on his first pitch of the game to Matt Joyce and then gave up two to Ryon Healey, who took him deep to left-center in the second and fourth. For Yankees catcherAustin Romine, the first inning was emblematic of Tanaka's odd day. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/237054008/masahiro-tanaka-continues-to-struggle-in-loss/

"I saw a guy ambush the first pitch in the game and hit a home run, but then [Tanaka] struck out the side," Romine said of Tanaka's three K's in a 12-pitch first inning. "It's the good and the bad. It's weird but you have to keep going with it." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/237054008/masahiro-tanaka-continues-to-struggle-in-loss/

Tanaka is now 0-6 with an 8.92 ERA in his last seven starts, and he has allowed 15 homers in his last 33 1/3 innings. He's given up 47 hits and walked 10 while striking out 44. Girardi was hoping his start in Anaheim Monday - where he went 6 2/3 innings and only allowed one earned run - was the start of something positive. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/237054008/masahiro-tanaka-continues-to-struggle-in-loss/

"I mean, you hope he can carry that over, the consistency he had there," Girardi said. "But it didn't start out great. ... It looked like he might be able to settle in, but he couldn't."

Despite his struggles, the Yankees feel like they went through a similar thing last year with Michael Pineda who is throwing the ball well this season. Girardi remains confident that Tanaka will be able to find a way out of it. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/237054008/masahiro-tanaka-continues-to-struggle-in-loss/

"This is part of the game. You're always going to have some guys that are struggling a little bit," Girardi said. "I believe in him, and I've seen what he's done the previous three years. We'll just try to get him ready and get him going." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/237054008/masahiro-tanaka-continues-to-struggle-in-loss/

Austin Romine, the first inning was emblematic of Tanaka's odd day. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/237054008/masahiro-tanaka-continues-to-struggle-in-loss/

"I saw a guy ambush the first pitch in the game and hit a home run, but then [Tanaka] struck out the side," Romine said of Tanaka's three K's in a 12-pitch first inning. "It's the good and the bad. It's weird but you have to keep going with it." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/237054008/masahiro-tanaka-continues-to-struggle-in-loss/

Masahiro Tanaka is now 0-6 with an 8.92 ERA in his last seven starts, and he has allowed 15 homers in his last 33 1/3 innings. He's given up 47 hits and walked 10 while striking out 44. Girardi was hoping his start in Anaheim Monday - where he went 6 2/3 innings and only allowed one earned run - was the start of something positive. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/237054008/masahiro-tanaka-continues-to-struggle-in-loss/

"I mean, you hope he can carry that over, the consistency he had there," Girardi said. "But it didn't start out great. ... It looked like he might be able to settle in, but he couldn't." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/237054008/masahiro-tanaka-continues-to-struggle-in-loss/

Despite his struggles, the Yankees feel like they went through a similar thing last year with Michael Pineda, who is throwing the ball well this season. Girardi remains confident that Tanaka will be able to find a way out of it. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/237054008/masahiro-tanaka-continues-to-struggle-in-loss/

"This is part of the game. You're always going to have some guys that are struggling a little bit," Girardi said. "I believe in him, and I've seen what he's done the previous three years. We'll just try to get him ready and get him going." according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/237054008/masahiro-tanaka-continues-to-struggle-in-loss/

New York dropped to 38-28 while Oakland improved to 30-38 on the season. 

New York and Oakland will finish up their four -game series  Sunday as Luis Cessa who has an earn run average of 5.40 was called up on Thursday and will make the start replacing veteran left -hander CC Sabathia who landed on the 10-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain. For Triple -A Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Cessa had a record of 3-6 with a 4.15 earn run average in 65 innings. His only big league appearance was 31/3 innings May 1. He will go up against Oakland right -hander Jharel Cotton who has a record of 3-7 with a 5.52 earn run average. At 3-7 Cotton is looking for answers. On a four -game skid. He hasn't won a decision since May 4th when he held Minnesota to two earned runs over six innings, striking out nine along the way. It was one of three quality starts this season. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-athletics/2017/06/18/491138#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491138

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/2017/06/18/491138#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491138