New York Turns To Sonny Gray As They Look To Bounce Back From Their Loss In The Opener To Seattle

New York will turn to Sonny Gray in game two who will have a nickname of a food on the back of his jersey for players weekend as he will try to get New York out of the pickle they're in when he takes the mound in game two against Seattle at Yankee Stadium.

Sonny Gray will face a familiar foe on Saturday afternoon as the Yankees continue a three-game series with the Mariners at Yankee Stadium. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170825250612252/pickles-faces-yo-old-foe-at-yankee-stadium/?game_pk=492035

Gray, acquired from the A's in a July 31 deal just prior to the non-waiver Trade Deadline, has gone 1-3 with a 3.13 ERA in his first four starts for the Yankees. Though this will be his first time facing Seattle this season, he is 4-2 with a 2.86 ERA in 10 career starts against the Mariners, having played his first 4 1/2 seasons in the Majors in the American League West. "according to tohttp://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170825250612252/pickles-faces-yo-old-foe-at-yankee-stadium/?game_pk=492035 

Gray will be wearing the nickname "Pickles" on the back of his jersey as both teams continue the Players Weekend festivities. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170825250612252/pickles-faces-yo-old-foe-at-yankee-stadium/?game_pk=492035

Seattle will counter with veteran right-hander Yovani Gallardo (aka "Yo"), who is 5-9 with a 5.75 ERA in 20 starts in a Mariners' rotation that has been beset by injuries. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170825250612252/pickles-faces-yo-old-foe-at-yankee-stadium/?game_pk=492035

Gallardo is 2-3 with a 6.32 ERA in seven starts against the Yankees, and he took a no-decision in his only prior meeting with New York this season. Gallardo gave up five hits and three runs in five innings in a 6-4 loss on July 23 at Safeco Field. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170825250612252/pickles-faces-yo-old-foe-at-yankee-stadium/?game_pk=492035

That game was Gallardo's first one back in the rotation after spending a month working in long relief. In six games since returning to a starting role, he is 1-2 with a 6.23 ERA and has lost his last two outings. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170825250612252/pickles-faces-yo-old-foe-at-yankee-stadium/?game_pk=492035

Yankees third baseman Todd Frazier has hit .359 in 41 plate appearances against Gallardo, outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury has batted .353 in 19 plate appearances and first baseman Chase Headley .345 in 36 plate appearances. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170825250612252/pickles-faces-yo-old-foe-at-yankee-stadium/?game_pk=492035

Robinson Cano didn't start Friday because of a slight left hamstring strain, but he is hoping to be in the lineup for Saturday's game. The former Yankee, who struck out as a pinch-hitter in the ninth in the series opener, has had pretty good success against Gray, batting .292 with two homers and two doubles in 26 plate appearances. Kyle Seager has hit .250 with one homer and two doubles in 30 plate appearances and Nelson Cruz is at .250 with no extra-base hits in 16 plate appearances. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170825250612252/pickles-faces-yo-old-foe-at-yankee-stadium/?game_pk=492035

Gray has allowed two earned runs or fewer in his last 10 starts, tied for the longest streak in the Majors with Aaron Nola of the Phillies. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170825250612252/pickles-faces-yo-old-foe-at-yankee-stadium/?game_pk=492035

As for New York and Seattle's last game it took extra innings to decide the winner. 

There wasn't much offense to speak of in the first game when New York took on Seattle at Yankee Stadium as Aroldis Chapman once again blew the save. 

Yonder "Mr. 305" Alonso supplied the late fireworks to help kick off Players Weekend, crushing a go-ahead homer off Aroldis "The Missile" Chapman as the Mariners celebrated a 2-1, 11-inning victory over the Yankees on Friday evening at Yankee Stadium. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250643808/mariners-yonder-alonso-homers-to-beat-yankees/

Alonso's two-out blast off the left-hander's 100.1-mph heater landed on the right side of Monument Park, restoring a Seattle lead that was erased when "Sir Didi" Gregorius' eighth-inning single was misplayed by center fielder Guillermo Heredia, allowing Aaron "All Rise" Judge to race home all the way from first base. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250643808/mariners-yonder-alonso-homers-to-beat-yankees/

"I was just trying not to strike out, honestly," said Alonso, who was 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts in his previous meetings with his Cuban countrymate. "He's as tough as it gets, man, no question about it. He's got electric stuff, a 100-mph fastball, and a wicked slider. Right there I'm just trying to be easy and make contact." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250643808/mariners-yonder-alonso-homers-to-beat-yankees/

Alonso became just the third left-handed batter to homer off Chapman in his eight-year career. Just 12 days earlier, Rafael Devers of the Red Sox became the second, joining Luke Scott (2011). "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250643808/mariners-yonder-alonso-homers-to-beat-yankees/

"It's definitely a tough moment right now," said Chapman, who was recently demoted from the closer's role. "What I'm trying to do is get out of it. That's the focus. Move on from it." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250643808/mariners-yonder-alonso-homers-to-beat-yankees/

Playing their first home game since 1914 without traditional pinstriped tops, the Yankees missed an opportunity to gain ground in the American League East chase. New York remains 4 1/2 games behind the Red Sox, who lost, 16-3, to the Orioles on Friday. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250643808/mariners-yonder-alonso-homers-to-beat-yankees/

The win kept the Mariners a half-game back of the Twins in the chase for the AL's second Wild Card spot at 66-63, as they improved to 5-2 on their 12-game East Coast road trip. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250643808/mariners-yonder-alonso-homers-to-beat-yankees/

Mike Zunino had three hits, including a fourth-inning homer that served as the only blemish on CC "Dub" Sabathia's ledger. Sabathia hurled seven strong innings of five-hit ball in a no-decision, striking six around a walk. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250643808/mariners-yonder-alonso-homers-to-beat-yankees/

Ariel Miranda started for Seattle and permitted just two hits over 4 2/3 scoreless innings. The Yankees were 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 13 men on. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250643808/mariners-yonder-alonso-homers-to-beat-yankees/

"It's a tough loss," Gregorius said. "We had the bases loaded a couple of times, runners at second, runners at third a couple of times. We've got to play the small game, too -- try to get runners over, try to get runners in, one at a time. We didn't do that today." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250643808/mariners-yonder-alonso-homers-to-beat-yankees/

After escaping a bases-loaded jam in the third inning, Miranda put out another serious threat in the fourth, after Gregorius was hit by a one-out pitch and "All-Starlin" Castro doubled in his second at-bat since being activated from the disabled list. Miranda recovered to strike out Tyler Austin, and after a walk, he fanned Todd "The Toddfather" Frazier to end the inning. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250643808/mariners-yonder-alonso-homers-to-beat-yankees/

We made big pitches when men were on base and left them out there for most of the night," Mariners manager Scott Servais said after seven Seattle pitchers combined to hold the Yankees in check. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250643808/mariners-yonder-alonso-homers-to-beat-yankees/

Right-hander Nick "Hubba Hubba" Vincent blew a 90.9-mph fastball past Frazier for the final out of the eighth inning, stranding the bases loaded, but the frame turned earlier than that. Gregorius bolted for third base on Castro's grounder to shortstop, and the Yankees did not challenge the call at third base despite replays that appeared to show Gregorius may have been safe. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250643808/mariners-yonder-alonso-homers-to-beat-yankees/

"By the time we got the last review, it was about 50 seconds," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We didn't get that one in time, and everything that we saw said that he was out. It's unfortunate it comes in so late, but that's part of the review process." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250643808/mariners-yonder-alonso-homers-to-beat-yankees/

Seattle had the bases loaded with one out in the top of the ninth, thanks to two walks and a Zunino double. Dellin "D. Dawg" Betances got Ben Gamel to pop up to first base and struck out pinch-hitter Robinson "Don't You Know" Cano on three pitches, ending the at-bat with a filthy 88.5-mph slider. Cano didn't start the game due to a sore left hamstring. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250643808/mariners-yonder-alonso-homers-to-beat-yankees/

That's a tough at-bat," Servais said. "You're sitting there all night and Betances is one of the best in the game with that breaking ball. You run your best guy up there and hope for the best. Betances executed, but Robbie was fine. Hopefully, he'll be good to go and we can get him in the lineup tomorrow." according to tohttp://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250643808/mariners-yonder-alonso-homers-to-beat-yankees/

It's a lot of fun. We've got a group of guys that come in here every day and battle. They're professionals. Any chance you can do anything to provide for the team for a win, it's a plus. That's my goal." -- Alonso, after coming off the bench for his homer, his second with Seattle, where he's hitting .302 in 15 games since being acquired from the A's "according to tohttp://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250643808/mariners-yonder-alonso-homers-to-beat-yankees/

Sabathia caught Kyle "Corey's Brother" Seager looking at a called third strike in the top of the sixth inning, marking the 2,814th strikeout of the lefty's career. That moved him past Mike Mussina (2,813) into sole possession of 19th place on baseball's all-time list. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250643808/mariners-yonder-alonso-homers-to-beat-yankees/

Alonso's game-winner off Chapman's 100.1-mph fastball made it the third-fastest pitch to be hit for a homer in the Majors this year, and the fastest pitch hit by a Mariner for a home run since pitch tracking began in 2008. The 106.2-mph exit velocity made it the hardest home run allowed by Chapman in the past three seasons. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250643808/mariners-yonder-alonso-homers-to-beat-yankees/

The Mariners wasted no time getting a call overturned as Yankees leadoff hitter Brett Gardnerinitially was ruled safe on an infield single after diving to beat first baseman Danny Valencia to the bag in the first. But after a 31-second review, the call was overturned and Gardner was out in what turned into a 1-2-3 inning for Miranda. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250643808/mariners-yonder-alonso-homers-to-beat-yankees/

The game was extended in the 11th inning after Gardner was initially called out at second base on a stolen-base attempt. A review of 45 seconds overturned the call. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/250643808/mariners-yonder-alonso-homers-to-beat-yankees/

With the loss, New York drops to 68-59 and is now 4.5 games back of their American League East rival Boston who is leading the division with a record of 73-55. Meanwhile, Seattle improves to 66-63 and is now 12.5 games back of first place Houston in the American League West.  New York and Seattle will play game two of their three game series this afternoon at Yankee Stadium. 

 Right -hander Sonny Gray who has a record of 7-8 with a 3.38 earn run average will get the start for New York. Despite a 1-3 record in four starts since being traded to New York, Gray has been pretty consistent with his new team. He turned in three straight quality starts before allowing two runs and seven hits in five innings last time out against Boston.  He will go up against Seattle right -hander Yovani Gallardo who has a record of 5-9 with a 5.75 earn run average. Gallardo has been a veteran presence in the rotation. With injuries to key starters, he has provided quality innings. Gallardo has allowed three or fewer earned runs in seven of his 11 starts. However, he has a 6.32 earn run average in his career against the Yanks. "according to tohttps://www.mlb.com/gameday/mariners-vs-yankees/2017/08/26/492035#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=492035 

Will Seattle be able to get their offense going against Sonny Gray? Will New York be able to get their offense going against Yovani Gallardo? Wil New York  be able to score with runners in scoring position and not leave players on base? If Aroldis Chapman comes in will he not give up a home run like he did in the opener? 

First pitch is set for 1:05 pm. The game will be televised on Major League Baseball Network and Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/mariners-vs-yankees/2017/08/26/492035#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=492035