Jordan Montgomery Gets The Start In The Opener As New York Visits Baltimore

Don't you just love it when September arrives and playing on the diamond actually means something?

 The  Orioles and Yankees will continue their respective battles for a postseason berth when they square off in a critical three-game set that begins on Labor Day in Baltimore. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170903252178796/yankees-os-clash-in-battle-of-wc-hopefuls/?game_pk=492156

The Yankees own the season series so far, 7-5, though New York has had some recent struggles that have caused its AL Wild Card lead to dwindle. The O's, who won seven straight last month to get back into contention, are in a stretch of six of seven series against the AL East. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170903252178796/yankees-os-clash-in-battle-of-wc-hopefuls/?game_pk=492156

Baltimore will send ace Dylan Bundy to the mound for Monday's 2:05 p.m. ET opener. Bundy, working on extra rest again as part of a six-man rotation, is coming off a masterful one-hit shutout win over the Mariners. It marked the first career complete game for Bundy, who has already established himself as Baltimore's best starter in his first full season in the rotation. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170903252178796/yankees-os-clash-in-battle-of-wc-hopefuls/?game_pk=492156

The Yankees will counter with left-hander Jordan Montgomery, opting to bypass veteran Jaime Garcia's turn in the rotation. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170903252178796/yankees-os-clash-in-battle-of-wc-hopefuls/?game_pk=492156

"Monty has pitched OK against them and we decided to go with Monty," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Jaime will be inserted somewhere in the next time through after this. He's pitched OK. He's given us a chance to win." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170903252178796/yankees-os-clash-in-battle-of-wc-hopefuls/?game_pk=492156

Montgomery last started for the Yankees in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Indians, taking the loss after permitting four runs and six hits in four innings. He's 1-1 with a 3.31 ERA in three starts against Baltimore this season. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170903252178796/yankees-os-clash-in-battle-of-wc-hopefuls/?game_pk=492156

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy (right wrist) could be available during the three-game series. Hardy has been dealing with some right elbow discomfort in coming back from the wrist injury. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170903252178796/yankees-os-clash-in-battle-of-wc-hopefuls/?game_pk=492156

The Yankees entered play on Sunday with a 68-38 record in games where they homer this season. That is the third-most wins in the Majors in such games, behind only the Dodgers (80) and Astros (70). When the Yankees don't homer they are 4-25, the fewest wins in such games by a team this season. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170903252178796/yankees-os-clash-in-battle-of-wc-hopefuls/?game_pk=492156

 Jonathan Schoop and Manny Machado have both been swinging hot bats for the O's. Schoop is batting .354 (34-for-96) with five home runs and 19 RBIs in his last 22 games, while Machado is batting .346 (44-for-127) with 12 home runs and 33 RBIs in his last 29 games. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170903252178796/yankees-os-clash-in-battle-of-wc-hopefuls/?game_pk=492156

As for New York's last game, they beat Boston. 

The two American League East rivals played their final game of at least the regular Sunday at Yankee Stadium as New York was able to get to Boston starter Chris Sale early.

The Yankees set the stage for an exciting American League East race heading down the stretch by pulling out a crucial 9-2 victory over the Red Sox on Sunday night that gave them three wins in the four-game series against their rivals. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/252310652/yankees-beat-chris-sale-cut-red-sox-lead/

Fueled by a dominant pitching performance by Luis Severino and three solo homers against Red Sox ace Chris Sale, the Yankees slimmed Boston's lead to 3 1/2 games with four weeks left in the regular season. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/252310652/yankees-beat-chris-sale-cut-red-sox-lead/

"This club's gonna fight," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We're gonna fight, and we're resilient." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/252310652/yankees-beat-chris-sale-cut-red-sox-lead/

It was the last of 19 meetings between the Red Sox and Yankees, and New York won the season series, 11-8. The clubs could meet again in the postseason. The Yankees hold a two-game lead over the Twins for the first AL Wild Card spot. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/252310652/yankees-beat-chris-sale-cut-red-sox-lead/

"They cut into [the division lead] a little bit," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "We've got to go home and regroup, bottom line. Missed opportunities, we can't go back. We just have to take care of business [Monday] and beyond. ... The short of this is this: We've got to collectively do a better job all the way around." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/252310652/yankees-beat-chris-sale-cut-red-sox-lead/

The Bombers busted it open with a six-run sixth against the Red Sox's bullpen that was capped by a mammoth two-run homer by Aaron Judge, his 38th of the season and first since Aug. 16. According to Statcast™, the rocket by Judge left the bat at 115.1 mph while traveling a projected 469 feet. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/252310652/yankees-beat-chris-sale-cut-red-sox-lead/

Severino (12-6, 3.03 ERA) set the tone by allowing two hits and one unearned run over six innings, walking none and striking out nine. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/252310652/yankees-beat-chris-sale-cut-red-sox-lead/

"This was a big series. I went out there with my stuff, trying to get the win," Severino said. "It's really big. The games here, we won three, it's a 3 1/2-game lead. So we're getting there." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/252310652/yankees-beat-chris-sale-cut-red-sox-lead/

Things didn't go nearly as well for Sale (15-7, 2.85 ERA), who served up homers to Chase Headley, Matt Holliday, and Todd Frazier and threw 109 pitches while lasting just 4 1/3 innings. In his five starts against the Yankees this season, Sale was 0-3 with a 2.64 ERA. New York won four of those five games. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/252310652/yankees-beat-chris-sale-cut-red-sox-lead/

"They gotta adjust to me just like I gotta adjust to them," said Sale. "That's what the game is about is adjusting. They were putting long at-bats together, fouling some pitches off, taking some good pitches. So, it was up to me to make an in-game adjustment, and clearly, I didn't." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/252310652/yankees-beat-chris-sale-cut-red-sox-lead/

In a frustrating turn of events for the Red Sox, Addison Reed appeared to get squeezed on two pitches in an at-bat against Gary Sanchez in the sixth to make the count 3-1, leading to the ejection of Boston pitching coach Carl Willis. After Sanchez reached on an infield RBI hit that third baseman Rafael Devers nearly made a brilliant play on, Starlin Castro broke it open with a three-run double to right against Reed. It was also Reed who gave up the homer to Judge. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/252310652/yankees-beat-chris-sale-cut-red-sox-lead/

Yeah, Raffy makes a heck of a play to glove-side, bang-bang play; unfortunately, he doesn't record the out," said Farrell. "It looks like there were some pitches that could have gone either way, looks like things kind of tightened up [in the strike zone] in that inning." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/252310652/yankees-beat-chris-sale-cut-red-sox-lead/

Just after the Yankees had damaged Sale with the back-to-back homers in the fourth, Severino kept the momentum with his team in a dominant fifth in which he struck out Devers, Hanley Ramirez and Sandy Leon swinging in succession. The strikeout of Leon gave Severino 200 strikeouts for the season, making him the first pitcher 23 years old or younger to achieve that feat since Felix Hernandez in 2009. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/252310652/yankees-beat-chris-sale-cut-red-sox-lead/

"Castro told me about the 200 strikeouts -- I didn't know anything about that. I was concentrating on my game," Severino said. "It feels good. Right now I'm playing well and that's all that matters. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/252310652/yankees-beat-chris-sale-cut-red-sox-lead/

Yeah, but we got plenty of time left. Now is definitely not the time to panic. We know where we're at. We know what we need to do. We've got a good homestand coming up. Put in some good work and come out of there where we need to be." -- Sale, on Boston's division lead being trimmed "according to tohttp://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/252310652/yankees-beat-chris-sale-cut-red-sox-lead/

"Oh yeah. I wanted to go out there again. I was looking forward to facing Boston. That was the main thing. I gave up 10 runs. I can't allow that. I have to go out there and give them my best stuff." -- Severino, on facing the Red Sox again after allowing 10 runs against them on Aug. 12. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/252310652/yankees-beat-chris-sale-cut-red-sox-lead/

Severino became the sixth pitcher in the Major Leagues to reach 200 strikeouts this season, joining Sale, Max Scherzer, Chris Archer, Corey Kluber and Jacob deGrom. The only other Yankees pitcher to do so at age 23 or younger was Al Downing in 1964. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/252310652/yankees-beat-chris-sale-cut-red-sox-lead/

The Red Sox were 1-for-27 with runners in scoring position in this series, and 20-for-140 (.143 batting average) against New York on the season. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/252310652/yankees-beat-chris-sale-cut-red-sox-lead/

"They've made a number of key pitches. They've probably made a defensive play in there as well when you look at over the course of 19 games. There's ample opportunities," Farrell said. "This series is a snapshot of the way the 19 games have gone." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/252310652/yankees-beat-chris-sale-cut-red-sox-lead/

Sanchez momentarily brought the Yankee Stadium crowd to life after an apparent inning-ending caught stealing of Jackie Bradley Jr. at second base in the top of the third, but the Red Sox successfully challenged the out call. Replays showed Bradley getting his hand in ahead of the tag -- beating an impressive 1.81-second pop time and 85.9-mph throw from Sanchez, per Statcast™ -- and he was ruled safe after review. The Red Sox couldn't capitalize on the prolonged inning, though, as Severino struck out Andrew Benintendi to end the threat. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/252310652/yankees-beat-chris-sale-cut-red-sox-lead/

Sanchez was again at the center of a replay review in the bottom of the sixth inning, and this time it was a play that swung the game. Batting with the bases loaded and two outs and the Yankees leading 3-1, Sanchez smoked a ground ball to third base. Devers made a diving stop and threw to first, and Sanchez was called out on a bang-bang play that would have kept the Yankees off the board. But the Yanks challenged and the call was overturned, with Sanchez just beating the throw. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/252310652/yankees-beat-chris-sale-cut-red-sox-lead/

"That's a huge hit. That's what blew that game open, him beating that out, and the replay," Girardi said. "It's a completely different game. That's the importance of replay. Because it can lead to a lot of good things for a team -- and sometimes if you're on the losing end of it, it leads to a lot of bad things. But that was big tonight." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/252310652/yankees-beat-chris-sale-cut-red-sox-lead/

With the win, New York improved to 73-63 while Boston dropped to 77-60 on the season. 

As for Baltimore's last game,  It took twelve innings to decide the winner. 

Mark Trumbo watched Chris Davis draw an intentional walk for the second time Sunday afternoon. Then he went out and made Toronto regret it. "according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

Trumbo's two-out line drive into left field scored Jonathan Schoop to lift Baltimore to a 5-4, 12-inning win over the Blue Jays at Camden Yards. It marked the O's 11th walk-off win this season, fourth by Trumbo and cut their deficit to 1 1/2 games behind the Twins for the second American League Wild Card spot. "according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

"That was a really tough series," said Trumbo. "Obviously, this is crunch time, so we would have been real disappointed if we didn't get the job done." "according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

Trumbo's game-winning single, which earned him a pair of pies to the face from Schoop and Adam Jones, came off of Blue Jays reliever Danny Barnes and snapped the team's 0-for-16 with runners in scoring position. "according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

Barnes surrendered a leadoff double to Schoop before recording two quick outs and intentionally walking Davis to get to Trumbo, who had a solo homer earlier in the game. "according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

"It's just really hard to do what they did today and have been doing. It's just there are so many lures to give in and our guys never did, and they didn't either. That's why these guys perform at this level. Toronto is 10 days away from flipping a lot of things around," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

"You can't sit here and talk about all the contributions and things that had to happen to get to that opportunity. You had some situations where you look like you're going to push it across and you let that snowball. You can't let things snowball, especially this time of year where something negative happens, and when something positive happend to get comfortable with it. The players are just too good." "according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

Down 4-3, leadoff batter Wellington Castillo hit his second homer of the afternoon in the ninth, off of struggling Blue Jays closer Roberto Ozuna to force extras. Osuna is now tied for the MLB lead with nine blown saves this season (along with Atlanta's  Jim Johnson. "according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

Orioles reliever and September callup Jimmy Yacobonius tossed two scoreless for the Os to pick up the W. "according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

Blue Jays reliever Carlos Ramirez, who tossed two scoreless innings on Friday, continued his recent success with another two scoreless frames in the 10th and 11th. Ramirez, a September callup, didn't allow an earned run all season in the Minors (37 2/3 innings). "according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

Ryan Goins helped spark the Blue Jays to another run with a seventh-inning dribbler into left field that went for a double off of O's reliever Richard Bleier  He moved to third on a groundout and scored on Michael Saunders pinch infield hit off of Dareen O' Day. "according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

Brett Anderson,  making his second start for Toronto this season, went six innings and held the Orioles to three runs. "according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

Two of those were solo homers from Trumbo and Castillo, with Trey Mancini's  sacrifice fly scoring the third run in the bottom of the sixth. "according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

"It was a weird game," Anderson said. "It was probably about as efficient as I've ever been, but there was a lot of hard contact and it's a tough lineup. "according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

"You know it's going to be a battle from the get go. My stuff wasn't as good as the first outing but, like I said, I knew they were going to be aggressive so I tried to make my pitches count. I gave up some hard hits and the defense was behind me as far as the infield, the outfield so as far as that's concerned, it's a good thing." "according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

Castillo's leadoff blast off of Osuna marked his second multi-homer game of the season and forced extra innings. Castillo now has 18 homers on the season and has hit four in the past week. Meanwhile, Osuna was saddled with his ninth blown save, moving his ERA to 3.41 in the process. The Blue Jays closer was able to hold things there, leaving two runners on base to end the ninth. "according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

"It's frustrating," said Osuna, who since July 18 has six blown saves and a 6.10 ERA. "When you're pitching a good game and the team is playing well and just little things like that get you out of the game. Concentration gets a little bit away, too, when stuff like that happens, but hopefully, it's going to get better." "according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson continued his surge, hitting his 25th homer of the season and 16th of the second half with a three-run shot in the third. The blast marked his second homer and sixth RBI of the series. "according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

"Does it bother me? Yeah. But when we win, that's more important. I think it kind of doesn't really matter what I do as long as the team wins. That's the way I think everyone in here feels. Right now is the time of year we've got to win, especially in September. You see it all the time. I feel like you've got all the callups here and there's a chance for that game to get away with one more swing." -- Orioles start Chris Tillman  on getting pulled after putting two runners on in the fifth "according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

"I haven't changed anything. It's just one thing at a time. I'll take full responsibility. Before it was little bloopers and stuff like that. Today I thought I had the guy with that cutter, but he got the best of me." -- Osuna, on blowing his ninth save, which is the third most in one season by a Blue Jays reliever in franchise history "according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

The Blue Jays dropped to 5-12 in extra-innings games this season. The 12 losses are the most in the Major Leagues. "according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

The Blue Jays challenged Tim Beckham's  one-out fielder's choice in the bottom of the seventh inning, and the call was ruled to stand after a 1:10 review. "according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

A crew chief review in the ninth inning stood after Schoop's two-out single off of Osuna." according to http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/252176850/orioles-mark-trumbo-hits-walk-off-single/?topicId=27118142

Left-hander Jordan Montgomery will get the start for New York. He has a record of 7-7 with a 4.15 earn run average. Montgomery last started in the second game of an August 30th double header vs. Cleveland, giving up four runs in the first before settling down. He completed just four innings that day and has not completed more than 5/1/3 innings in his last five starts. He will go up against Baltimore right -hander Dylan Bundy who has a record of 13-8 with a 3.94 earn run average. Bundy will once again be working on extra rest, a priority for the O's in the second half of the season. He's coming off a magnificent one hit shutout over the Mariners in his first career complete game. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-orioles/2017/09/04/492156#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=492156

Will Jordan Montgomery not give up four runs in the first inning? Will he be able to go longer than five innings in this start? Will the Baltimore offense be able to get their offense going against him? Will the New York offense be able to backup his start? 

First pitch is set for 2:05 pm. The game will be televised on MASN and Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-orioles/2017/09/04/492156#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=492156