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BASEBALL

Sonny Gray Looks To Bounce Back As New York Takes On Toronto

Sonny Gray's last outing on April 12th at Fenway Park against New York's rival Boston is one he would like to forget.

 Sonny Gray will look to make that game a distant memory as he looks to bounce back against Toronto in game two of a four -game series when he starts Friday.

The right -hander has a record of 1-1 with a 6.92 earn run average coming into the game against Toronto. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/32082/sonny-gray

Gray has been working on mechanical adjustments following his most recent start, in which he was peppered by the Red Sox for 6 runs over 3-plus innings on April 12. He worked 4 innings of 1-run ball at Toronto on April 1, striking out 8. " according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy He will oppose Toronto right -hander Marco Estrada who comes into the game against New York with a record of 1-1 to go along with a 4.24 earn run average. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/29215/marco-estrada

As for the opener between New York and Toronto,

New York won as 37 -year old left-hander and veteran CC Sabathia returned from the disabled list after a stint with right hip soreness.

The blueprint for this season leans heavily on thunder from the top of the lineup and firepower at the back end of the game. It is a formula that has not appeared as often as expected through 17 games, but that may be about to change. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-led-by-didi-gregorius-aaron-judge/c-272960980

Aaron Judge connected for another historic homer, and David Robertson wriggled out of an eighth-inning jam to help the bullpen fire 4 2/3 effective innings in support of CC Sabathia's return from the disabled list, leading the Yankees to a 4-3 victory over the Blue Jays on Thursday evening at Yankee Stadium. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-led-by-didi-gregorius-aaron-judge/c-272960980

Judge's seventh-inning blast off Tyler Clippard provided some late fireworks and proved to be the difference, as the Yankees won for the third time in four games. Their record stands at 9-8. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-led-by-didi-gregorius-aaron-judge/c-272960980

"You don't want to be around .500," Judge said. "You want to win every game, but it's April 19. It's still early. We've still got a lot of work to do, we've got a lot of things to improve on, and we're going to continue to do that. We'll look up in August or September, and if we continue to work on the little things, we'll be where we want to be." according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-led-by-didi-gregorius-aaron-judge/c-272960980

Judge's fifth homer of the season was the 61st of his career in 199 games, making him the fastest to reach that milestone in terms of games played. The previous record was held by Mark McGwire, who hit 61 homers in 204 games for the 1987-88 Athletics. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-led-by-didi-gregorius-aaron-judge/c-272960980

Didi Gregorius' team-leading 17th RBI of the season, a fifth-inning single off Toronto starter Aaron Sanchez, restored the Yankees' lead after Sabathia permitted two runs (none earned) and four hits over 4 1/3 innings in a 71-pitch effort, having last worked on April 6 due to right hip soreness. Chad Green worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief to pick up the win. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-led-by-didi-gregorius-aaron-judge/c-272960980

"I felt pretty good while I was out there," Sabathia said. "[The bullpen is] the strength of our team, and we know it. We have to try to give those guys a break as much as we can and keep them as fresh as possible." according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-led-by-didi-gregorius-aaron-judge/c-272960980

Tyler Wade and Ronald Torreyes drove home second-inning runs against Sanchez, who worked six innings of three-run ball while losing to the Yankees for the second time in as many starts. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-led-by-didi-gregorius-aaron-judge/c-272960980

     

    Toronto scored on a fourth-inning Sabathia crossup that went for a passed ball -- one of two on the evening for catcher Gary Sanchez -- and Luke Maile's RBI single in the fifth, a frame that opened with third baseman Torreyes committing the Yankees' American League-leading 18th error. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-led-by-didi-gregorius-aaron-judge/c-272960980

    Curtis Granderson's pinch-hit RBI single off Robertson drew Toronto within one run in the eighth, but Robertson retired the next two batters to wriggle free from a bases-loaded jam. Aroldis Chapman struck out the side in the ninth for his third save. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-led-by-didi-gregorius-aaron-judge/c-272960980

    "It was a really good game all around," Chapman said through an interpreter. "The guys were able to score runs, the defense was really good, and we went in and did our job. Yeah, the bullpen hasn't been like we expect of ourselves, but the good thing is that it's early. We have a long season. I'm sure and confident that everyone is going to be on the same page and go in there to do our jobs.""according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-led-by-didi-gregorius-aaron-judge/c-272960980

       

      MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
      In and out of trouble: Robertson's second pitch of the eighth inning was whacked into left field by Teoscar Hernandez for a single, and eight of his next nine pitches missed the zone, resulting in walks to Justin Smoak and Yangervis Solarte. But Robertson recovered, striking out Kevin Pillar before surrendering Granderson's pinch-hit single. He then fanned Randal Grichuk and got Maile to fly out to left, preserving the lead and allowing himself a sigh of relief. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-led-by-didi-gregorius-aaron-judge/c-272960980

      "We worked so hard to get that lead and everyone pitched so well to hold it, I figured I'd better do my part to at least keep the lead intact," Robertson said. "I didn't have my best stuff tonight. I wasn't filling up the strike zone. It's not like me to walk a couple of guys in an inning. I was fortunate I got out of it tonight and we got a win." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-led-by-didi-gregorius-aaron-judge/c-272960980

         

        SOUND SMART
        Since the start of 2017, Sabathia is 9-0 with a 1.88 ERA in 13 regular-season starts immediately following a Yankees loss. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-led-by-didi-gregorius-aaron-judge/c-272960980

        HE SAID IT
        "One of the strengths of our club is that 'pen and those guys' ability to close out games. It's four dynamic guys that came in there and did their job. I'm excited to see it roll out like that." -- manager Aaron Boone "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-led-by-didi-gregorius-aaron-judge/c-272960980

        First pitch is set for 7:05pm from Yankee Stadium. The game will be televised on Major League Baseball Network and Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/schedule/2018-04