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BASEBALL

New York Gets Shutout By Detroit In The Finale

Nothing like getting shutout on a rainy day in the Bronx at Yankee Stadium as New York once again lost another series this time to Detroit.

A Tigers starter kept the Yankees' lineup quiet for the second game in a row as Jordan Zimmermann tossed seven shutdown innings in Detroit's 2-0 win on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246008654/tigers-weather-storm-to-take-finale-from-yanks/

Zimmermann was hitting his spots for much of the afternoon, and the Yankees' only real scoring chances came in the third and in the sixth innings. He was removed after the seventh inning due to the second rain delay of the day. Play resumed at 8:01 p.m. ET after a three-hour and 11-minute delay, which Yankees right-hander Dellin Betances followed with the sixth immaculate inning in franchise history. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246008654/tigers-weather-storm-to-take-finale-from-yanks/

"I had a good command of all four pitches," Zimmermann said. "The only real trouble I'm having is throwing up and into lefties. But for the most part, I was able to command all my pitches and throw strikes and let the guys behind me work." according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246008654/tigers-weather-storm-to-take-finale-from-yanks/

The Yankees had runners on first and third with one out in the third after Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury singled, but Aaron Judge struck out and Gary Sanchez grounded out to end the inning. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246008654/tigers-weather-storm-to-take-finale-from-yanks/

Judge led off the sixth with a single, and Sanchez followed with a double. Zimmermann, however, got the hot-hitting Didi Gregorius and the slumping Matt Holliday to pop out. Chase Headley struck out to end the threat." according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246008654/tigers-weather-storm-to-take-finale-from-yanks/

"We're not doing our job when we're getting some opportunities to score, and that was the difference in the game," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Right now, we're not swinging the bats. It's not just one guy. It's more than one guy, and we've got to get it going." according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246008654/tigers-weather-storm-to-take-finale-from-yanks/

The Tigers scored a run off Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka in the first inning when Justin Upton doubled down the left-field line with runners on first and second and nobody out. The ball wasn't hit particularly well -- it had just a 7 percent hit probability, according to Statcast™ -- but it nonetheless gave Detroit the early lead. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246008654/tigers-weather-storm-to-take-finale-from-yanks/

The Tigers' second run came in the fourth inning, when Ellsbury twice bobbled James McCann's single to center field, allowing a hustling Mikie Mahtook to score all the way from first on the play. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246008654/tigers-weather-storm-to-take-finale-from-yanks/

the first three Tigers batters recorded hits on the first five pitches they saw from Tanaka, giving them a 1-0 lead on Upton's double. However, Tanaka found his form and retired the next three hitters to avoid further trouble. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246008654/tigers-weather-storm-to-take-finale-from-yanks/

Clinging to a 2-0 lead, Zimmermann escaped a no-out jam with two runners in scoring position unscathed. After two popouts, Zimmermann took advantage of home-plate umpire Dan Bellino's generous outside corner for strike two to Headley before fanning him on a changeup to retire the side. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246008654/tigers-weather-storm-to-take-finale-from-yanks/

"I think you've just got to find the ways to get situational hitting, whether it's hitting a ground ball or a sac fly," Headley said. "As a group, we haven't done that well lately. Quite frankly, that's probably cost us at least a game, maybe two games." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246008654/tigers-weather-storm-to-take-finale-from-yanks/

Just before the game went into the second delay, Gardner was ruled safe at first on a grounder to first baseman Miguel Cabrera with two outs in the seventh. The Tigers challenged and the call was overturned, as the throw from Cabrera to Zimmermann was ruled to have beat Gardner, sliding headfirst, to the bag. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246008654/tigers-weather-storm-to-take-finale-from-yanks/

New York drops to 57-49 and is now one game back in second place of their American League East rival Boston who is leading the division with a record 59-49. Meanwhile, Detroit improves 57-49 on the season in the American League Central in fourth place and is 8.5 games back of the division leader Cleveland. 

New York now hits the road as they visit Cleveland Thursday to open up a four game set  with one of their new acquisitions taking the mound for the first time in right -hander Sonny Gray who New York acquired Monday via trade with Oakland.  He has a record of 6-5 with a 3.43 earn run average. Gray is slated to make his Yankees debut after being acquired July 31st.He last pitched on July 25th at Toronto taking the loss after allowing four runs (none earned) in six innings. Gray was 4-2 with a 1.37 earn run average over his last six starts with the A's. He will take on  Cleveland right -hander Corey Kluber who has a record of 8-3 with a 2.90 earn run average. Kluber took a no-decision in his last outing where he went 6 1/3 innings where he allowed four runs on nine hits with 12 strikeouts against the White Sox. Since June 1st Kluber has posted a 1.86 earn run average and has logged 120 strikeouts in 11 starts. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-indians/2017/08/03/491717#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491717

First pitch is set for 7:10 pm. The game will be televised on Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-indians/2017/08/03/491717#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491717