Sonny Gray Is Impressive In First Start With New York But Errors Cost Them As Cleveland Takes The Opener

When a player joins a new team or in Sonny Gray's case, he got traded you always want to make a great first impression on your new team and the newly acquired pitcher who previously pitched for Oakland did that on Thursday at  Cleveland in the opener for New York. 

For the most part, Sonny Gray lived up to expectations in his new uniform, peppering the bottom of the strike zone with late movement over six solid innings. The Yankees wish their defenders could have turned in a better first impression, however, as they welcomed the right-hander to their postseason chase. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246303212/sonny-gray-strong-in-yankees-debut/

Gray's debut was upstaged by three first-inning errors, producing two unearned runs and placing the Yankees in an early hole against ace Corey Kluber. They were not able to recover, as Kluber went the distance in a 5-1 Cleveland victory over New York on Thursday at Progressive Field. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246303212/sonny-gray-strong-in-yankees-debut/

"I was excited. I was looking forward to this moment for a while," Gray said. "I was looking forward to pitching. It's been a while since I've been out there on the mound. Overall I felt pretty good, but at the same time, I just came up a little short there at the end." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246303212/sonny-gray-strong-in-yankees-debut/

Acquired from the A's on Monday's non-waiver Trade Deadline in exchange for prospects Dustin Fowler, James Kaprielian, andJorge Mateo, Gray took the mound for the first time since July 25 at Toronto. He quickly had to deal with what manager Joe Girardi called "probably as bad a first inning as we've had all year." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246303212/sonny-gray-strong-in-yankees-debut/

Bradley Zimmer chopped a routine ground ball to first base that Chase Headley booted, and two batters later, second baseman Tyler Wade couldn't get a handle on a Michael Brantley grounder. Jose Ramirez followed with a run-scoring single to right field, where Clint Frazier air-mailed a throw to third base for another error. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246303212/sonny-gray-strong-in-yankees-debut/

"It leads to extra runs. It leads to extra pitches, which I think makes a difference tonight with Sonny," Girardi said. "I actually thought Sonny threw the ball well. It's unfortunate we gave them those two unearned runs." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246303212/sonny-gray-strong-in-yankees-debut/

Headley said that his relative inexperience at that position may have played a part in the error -- his first since switching infield corners to accommodate Todd Frazier's arrival. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246303212/sonny-gray-strong-in-yankees-debut/

"Learning experience. Next time, let it settle," Headley said. "You've got time over there. It's just habit. You've got to block the ball at third base, block it and get rid of it. I had plenty of time to grab it and step on the base." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246303212/sonny-gray-strong-in-yankees-debut/

Gray limited the damage, fanning Edwin Encarnacion for his first Yankees strikeout and getting Carlos Santana to fly out to end a 22-pitch frame. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246303212/sonny-gray-strong-in-yankees-debut/

"We were able to come out of the first inning with only two," Gray said. "We kept the runner at third. Coming off, I think we still felt pretty good about ourselves. You've just got to continue to make pitches, and things are going to turn." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246303212/sonny-gray-strong-in-yankees-debut/

Santana worked a four-pitch walk -- with the Yanks griping about home-plate umpire Sean Barber's zone -- and Brandon Guyer ripped a single into right field before Gray left a slider up to Yan Gomes, who banged it off the left-field wall for a two-run double. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246303212/sonny-gray-strong-in-yankees-debut/

"I feel like I threw the ball OK," Gray said. "At the same time, if I can shut that sixth inning down, it's a completely different ballgame. It's just one of those things that kind of got away from me for a couple of hitters. They took advantage. It gave them all the momentum for the last three innings." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246303212/sonny-gray-strong-in-yankees-debut/

- The spotlight was fixed on Sonny Gray on Thursday for his Yankees debut, but Indians ace Corey Kluber quickly pulled it back in his direction. Kluber's complete-game gem led Cleveland to its eighth straight home win, a 5-1 victory at Progressive Field." according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246236910/corey-kluber-indians-defeat-yankees-in-opener/

Acquired by New York from Oakland prior to Monday's non-waiver Trade Deadline, Gray logged six solid innings, but he was outpitched by Kluber and undone by a trio of first-inning errors by the Yankees. In his first outing for New York, Gray was charged with four runs (two earned) with six strikeouts and three walks. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246236910/corey-kluber-indians-defeat-yankees-in-opener/

"That guy, when he's on, he's tough to handle," Gray said of Kluber. "He was on tonight. When he's got those breaking balls and he's throwing that comeback fastball, he really is tough to handle." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246236910/corey-kluber-indians-defeat-yankees-in-opener/

Cleveland's two-run first inning proved enough for Kluber, whose lone blemish in his complete game was a solo homer by Gary Sanchez in the seventh. The right-hander ended with 11 strikeouts, marking the 11th time this season (10th in the past 12 starts) that Kluber reached double digits. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246236910/corey-kluber-indians-defeat-yankees-in-opener/

"Klubes just took over," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He knows what he wants to do, and he works so hard where he's able to do it. He keeps himself in great shape. He doesn't get tired. It's fun to watch. It's nice when you get some runs to spread it a little bit out, so you can enjoy it a little bit." according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246236910/corey-kluber-indians-defeat-yankees-in-opener/

Kluber also joined Randy Johnson (four times), Pedro Martinez (twice) and Nolan Ryan (once) as the only pitchers since at least 1913 with eight or more strikeouts in at least 12 straight starts. Johnson was the last to achieve the feat with a 17-game run between the 1999 and 2000 seasons. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246236910/corey-kluber-indians-defeat-yankees-in-opener/

"That's kind of crazy, isn't it?" Indians catcher Yan Gomes said. "It's really awesome. We came up from Triple-A together in 2013, and I've been fortunate enough to catch him. It's crazy seeing his development. Every year, he seems to surprise everyone." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246236910/corey-kluber-indians-defeat-yankees-in-opener/

Kluber's support came via a run-scoring single in the first from Jose Ramirez, a two-run double in the sixth from Gomes and a solo homer from Francisco Lindor in the seventh. Lindor's blast (his 18th of the season) came off Yankees reliever Chasen Shreve. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246236910/corey-kluber-indians-defeat-yankees-in-opener/

In his first 11 games at first base for the Yankees this season, Chase Headley had been reliable, making zero errors and recording one Defensive Run Saved. His first-inning misplay on a routine grounder from Bradley Zimmer, however, set an unfortunate tone for a three-error inning. Zimmer reached after Headley couldn't corral the chopper in time, and the Yanks' defense helped the Tribe to a pair of quick runs against Gray. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246236910/corey-kluber-indians-defeat-yankees-in-opener/

"Certainly not the way you want to start," Headley said. "You get a really good pitcher on our side, and we just didn't play well behind him to start the game. Obviously, when you're going against a guy like Corey Kluber, who had as good stuff as I've seen him have, you get behind and that's tough to come back from." according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246236910/corey-kluber-indians-defeat-yankees-in-opener/

"We caught a couple breaks early," Francona said. "But saying that Zim gets down the line hard." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246236910/corey-kluber-indians-defeat-yankees-in-opener/

With two outs in the sixth inning, and Cleveland still clinging to its 2-0 advantage, Carlos Santana drew a walk and Brandon Guyer followed with a single. That set things up for Gomes, who drilled the first pitch he received from Gray off the 19-foot wall in left field for a two-run double. That helped spread out Cleveland's lead after Gray had locked up the Tribe's lineup over the previous four frames. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246236910/corey-kluber-indians-defeat-yankees-in-opener/

"That was obviously a big point in the game," Kluber said. "To double the lead gives us that much more breathing room. I gave up the home run the next inning, so 4-1 is a lot easier to work with than 2-1. When [Gomes] got to second base, you could see how pumped up he was -- and he should be. That was a big moment." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246236910/corey-kluber-indians-defeat-yankees-in-opener/

"I feel like I threw the ball OK," Gray said. "At the same time, if I can shut that sixth inning down, it's a completely different ballgame. It's just one of those things that kind of got away from me for a couple of hitters. They took advantage. It gave them all the momentum for the last three innings." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/246236910/corey-kluber-indians-defeat-yankees-in-opener/

With the loss, New York drops to 57-50 on the season and is now 2.0 games back of their American League East rival Boston who is leading the division with a record of 60-49. Meanwhile, Cleveland who is leading the American League Central division improves to 58-48 on the season.

New York and Cleveland will play game two of their four game series Friday when another newly acquired left-hander in Jaime Garcia will make his first start for New York.  Jaime Garcia has a record of 5-7 with a 4.29 earn run average. Garcia will debut in a Yankees uniform after being acquired from the Twins, for whom he started just once. Garcia got the win in that July 28th outing, permitting three runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings to the A's. He will go up against Cleveland right -hander Trevor Bauer who has a record of 9-8 with a 5.25 earn run average. Bauer impressed Thursday, allowing one run with six strikeouts over eight innings against the Angels. In six career starts against the Yankees, Bauer is 1-4 with a 5.34 earn run average. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-indians/2017/08/04/491730#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491730

First pitch is set for 7:10 pm. The game will be televised on Major League Baseball Network and Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-indians/2017/08/04/491730#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491730