Sonny Gray Still Searching For First Win With The Yankees As They Take On The Mets

After being acquired from Oakland at the July 31st deadline Sonny Gray is still looking for his first win with the Yankees as they host the Mets at Yankee Stadium before going to Citi Field for the last two of the four game series between the city rivals. 

Two weeks after joining the Yankees, right-hander Sonny Gray (6-7, 3.39 ERA) will make his Yankee Stadium debut against Jacob deGrom and the Mets on Tuesday at 7:05 pm. ET. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170814248369374/degrom-gray-take-stage-in-subway-series/?game_pk=491882

After beating the Mets, 4-2, in Monday night's series opener, the Yankees moved to within 4 1/2 games of the American League East-leading Red Sox. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170814248369374/degrom-gray-take-stage-in-subway-series/?game_pk=491882

With Gray serving as the missing piece to the Yankees' rotation and deGrom (13-5, 3.21 ERA) filling his role in what was supposed to be a top-tier Mets rotation, the matchup between the two starters is expected to bring much of the buzz this year to the always-hyped Subway Series. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170814248369374/degrom-gray-take-stage-in-subway-series/?game_pk=491882

"In this town, in this market, these are big games," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "These fans are very, very passionate here in New York. They love their teams, and they want to win. They don't care about names on the uniforms or anything else. It's about winning baseball games here, so these games are important." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170814248369374/degrom-gray-take-stage-in-subway-series/?game_pk=491882

Despite having some experience pitching in games between Interleague rivals when the Athletics would play their fellow Bay Area team the Giants, Gray said he isn't sure what to expect when he takes the mound Tuesday vs. the Mets. Even so, the right-hander said he's looking forward to his first taste of the Subway Series." according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170814248369374/degrom-gray-take-stage-in-subway-series/?game_pk=491882

"It'll be a fun game," Gray said. "I'm excited about it." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170814248369374/degrom-gray-take-stage-in-subway-series/?game_pk=491882

deGrom, who has been the Mets' most reliable starter this season after injuries to Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey, is 1-2 with a 3.32 ERA in his three career Subway Series starts. Since the All-Star break, the right-hander is 4-2 with a 2.01 ERA. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170814248369374/degrom-gray-take-stage-in-subway-series/?game_pk=491882

Gray is 0-2 since joining the Yankees, though he hasn't pitched as poor as his record indicates. A lack of offense and subpar defense have been more to blame than ineffective stuff from Gray. The Yankees have not scored a run in any of the 12 innings Gray has pitched for them. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170814248369374/degrom-gray-take-stage-in-subway-series/?game_pk=491882

"What I've seen from Sonny is he competes," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He gives you a chance to win, and we haven't scored any runs [for him]." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170814248369374/degrom-gray-take-stage-in-subway-series/?game_pk=491882

deGrom has completed at least six innings in five of his six starts since the All-Star break. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170814248369374/degrom-gray-take-stage-in-subway-series/?game_pk=491882

Aaron Judge has struck out in 31 consecutive games, which is one game shy of the single-season Major League record, set by Adam Dunn in 2012." according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170814248369374/degrom-gray-take-stage-in-subway-series/?game_pk=491882

 Curtis Grandson is batting .279/.391/.571, with nine home runs lifetime against the Yankees. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170814248369374/degrom-gray-take-stage-in-subway-series/?game_pk=491882

As for the opener, the Yankees beat the Mets. 

After losing the finale against Boston on Sunday on a late homer in the 9th the Yankees came right back to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx as they hosted the Mets and did the same thing to their city rival in Queens.

 Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks and Gary Sanchez all connected for the 40th home runs of their Major League careers on Monday evening, powering the Yankees to a much-needed 4-2 victory over the Mets in the opening game of this year's Subway Series. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248368010/yankees-win-subway-series-opener-vs-mets/

Judge tied the game in the sixth, launching his American League-leading 36th homer off Rafael Montero, and Hicks tattooed a Hansel Robles heater to give the Yanks the lead in the eighth. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248368010/yankees-win-subway-series-opener-vs-mets/

"We're still taking everything one pitch at a time, one game at a time," said Judge, who has hit six homers since the All-Star break. "That's what we did tonight. We battled to the end and were able to come out with the win." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248368010/yankees-win-subway-series-opener-vs-mets/

Sanchez's solo blast in the eighth added insurance as the Yanks inched within 4 1/2 games of the Red Sox in the American League East. Boston fell, 7-3, to Cleveland. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248368010/yankees-win-subway-series-opener-vs-mets/

"We're chasing in our division. We need to win games," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We look up and Boston loses tonight, and basically, we're right back to where we started Friday. To come from behind is important." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248368010/yankees-win-subway-series-opener-vs-mets/

Sanchez's 20th homer of season 

Gary Sanchez belts a solo home run to right field to give the Yankees a 4-2 lead in the 8th with his 20th homer of the year"according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248368010/yankees-win-subway-series-opener-vs-mets/

Curtis Granderson and Yoenis Cespedes slugged solo homers in support of Montero's quality six-inning effort, going deep off Luis Cessa, who started in place of the injured Masahiro Tanaka and allowed two runs over 4 1/3 frames before leaving with tightness in his right upper back. Cessa is scheduled to have an MRI on Tuesday morning. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248368010/yankees-win-subway-series-opener-vs-mets/

"I don't think it's too serious, but we've got to check it out," Girardi said. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248368010/yankees-win-subway-series-opener-vs-mets/

Chad Green was dominant in relief for the Yanks, striking out four over 2 2/3 scoreless, hitless innings. It was just the Yanks' fifth victory in 13 games this month. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248368010/yankees-win-subway-series-opener-vs-mets/

"We know they're dangerous in this park," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "You're not satisfied two runs is going to hold up in Yankee Stadium. The issue was we couldn't add on -- which is one way to put an end to it, is to add on -- and their bullpen shut us down." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248368010/yankees-win-subway-series-opener-vs-mets/

Activated from the disabled list late last week, Hicks does not appear to have missed a beat in his breakout season despite losing 39 team games to a right oblique injury. The switch-hitter has now homered twice in his last four games, establishing a new career high with 12 homers. Robles pointed to the sky, but no one was bringing that one back. Hicks also scored the Yanks' first run on a Sanchez sac fly. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248368010/yankees-win-subway-series-opener-vs-mets/

"It's something that our team definitely has," Hicks said. "We're a deep lineup that has the ability to hit homers, and it can change the outcome of a game." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248368010/yankees-win-subway-series-opener-vs-mets/

"It was just one failed pitch," Robles said. "He connected really well with the ball." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248368010/yankees-win-subway-series-opener-vs-mets/

Judge has been in an extended slide, striking out for the 31st consecutive game on Monday, but he may be getting back to his bread and butter. The rookie slugger did not get all of Montero's sixth-inning fastball, but he still was able to power it out to right-center. The Yankees have resisted moving Judge out of the No. 3 spot in the lineup, believing he is closer to recapturing his first-half form than the numbers might indicate." according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248368010/yankees-win-subway-series-opener-vs-mets/

"It's driving it the other way, which tells you that mechanically he's more sound," Girardi said. "When we look at him, yeah, he's pulled some home runs, but we've seen a number of them to right field and center field. He's made some adjustments and he's more comfortable in the box. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248368010/yankees-win-subway-series-opener-vs-mets/

With the win, New York is now 4 1/2 game back of their American League East rival Boston who lost Monday to Cleveland by a score of 7-3 and improves to 62-55 while the Mets drops to 53-63 on the season and are seventeen games back of National League East Washington. 

The Yankees and Mets will play game two of the subway series Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. Right -hander Sonny Gray will be on the mound for the Yankees. He has a record of 6-7 with a 3.39 earn run average.  Gray is hoping to get some run support as he makes his third start for the Yankees. In the 12 innings, he has been on the mound thus far, they have not managed a single run with Gray taking the losses at Cleveland and Toronto. He will take on Mets right -hander Jacob Degrom who has a record of 13-5 with an earn run average of 3.21. The Mets can only hope that the right triceps contusion degrom suffered in his last start when a 99 -mph line drive struck his arm, does not affect his success. Since June 7th, degrom is 9-2 with a 1.82 earn run average, 85 strikeouts and 16 walks in 79 1/3 innings. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/mets-vs-yankees/2017/08/15/491882#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491882

Will Sonny Gray be able to get some run support in the second game against the Mets something that unfortunately he hasn't had since arriving in New York? Will the Yankees be able to get runs off Jacob degrom? Will Sonny Gray be able to get his first win as a member of the Yankees? Will Jacob degrom get his fourteenth win of the season? How will Jacob Degrom's right triceps contusion effect his command? Will it affect it at all? 

First pitch is set for 7:05 pm. The game will be televised on SNY  and Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/mets-vs-yankees/2017/08/15/491882#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491882