New York Heads To Texas To Take On Defending World Series Champion Houston
The last time New York and Houston met was last season in the American League Championship Series when Joe Girardi was the manager and unfortunately they lost in game seven to Houston who was eventually crowned World Series Champions.
In the opener of this four -game series New York will start Sonny Gray. The right -hander comes into the game against Houston with a record of 1-1 with a 7.71 earn run average. Gray has been underwhelming this year, but he took a small step forward on Wednesday vs. the Twins, allowing three runs in 4 2/3 innings. Gray faced the Astros in Game 4 of the ALCS, allowing two runs (one earned) over five innings of one-hit ball. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy He will oppose Houston right -hander Charlie Morton who comes into the opener against New York with a record of 3-0 to go along with a 1.86 earn run average. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/29155/charlie-morton
After pitching brilliantly in his first 4 starts, Morton is coming off his worst outing of the year as he struggled with his command, walking five in four innings vs. the Angels. Morton got a no-decision after allowing four earned runs on five hits. " according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy
This season New York comes into this four-game series with the defending World Series Champions Houston Astros with a new manager in Aaron Boone and is on a nine -game winning streak and has an overall record of 18-9 "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-angels/2018/04/29/529824?#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=wrap,game=529824 after sweeping the Los Angeles on Sunday out in Anaheim California.
Sabathia hurled seven sparkling innings, one of which saw the hurler directed off the field while barking at home-plate umpire Angel Hernandez, and Gary Sanchez hit a mammoth homer as the Yankees registered their ninth straight victory, a 2-1 decision over the Angels on Sunday evening at Angel Stadium. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-leads-yankees-to-win-over-angels/c-274480404
"We just need to keep winning games," Sabathia said. "This is a really good team. We've got some good players in here. It's just up to us to go out and execute, play good defense. These guys are going to hit. It's up to us to keep pitching and help the bullpen out." "according tohttps://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-leads-yankees-to-win-over-angels/c-274480404
The veteran left-hander's newfound penchant for generating soft contact served him well against the Halos' lineup, which managed one run on five hits against Sabathia as he reduced his ERA to 1.71. It is the only earned run that Sabathia has permitted in 17 1/3 innings since returning from the disabled list on April 19."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-leads-yankees-to-win-over-angels/c-274480404
"Everything was working for him tonight," Sanchez said through an interpreter. "All of his pitches were sharp; the slider, the cutter, the changeup got better as the game went on. He was very good tonight." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-leads-yankees-to-win-over-angels/c-274480404
Securing the Yankees' first nine-game winning streak since June 8-18, 2012, Sanchez opened the scoring in the fourth inning with a two-run blast to left field off Angels starter Tyler Skaggs, clearing the bullpens with a drive that was calculated by Statcast™ to have traveled 447 feet. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-leads-yankees-to-win-over-angels/c-274480404
"I hit it well," said Sanchez, whose last eight hits have all gone for extra bases. "I felt like there was. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-leads-yankees-to-win-over-angels/c-274480404
Yankees manager Aaron Boone had to intercede after the third inning, when Sabathia induced a groundout to leave two men on, then exchanged words with Hernandez concerning the strike zone. Sabathia said he didn't remember what was said, offering only, "I thought I was throwing strikes." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-leads-yankees-to-win-over-angels/c-274480404
"I was out there just to make sure it didn't escalate to anything," Boone said. "I didn't think it was a big deal." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-leads-yankees-to-win-over-angels/c-274480404
Sabathia kept the Angels off the board until the sixth, when Justin Upton reached on a one-out single to first baseman Neil Walker, as the hurler's balky knees prevented him from covering the bag. Albert Pujols' 2,996th career hit, a broken-bat single, moved Upton to third base before he scored on a wild pitch. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-leads-yankees-to-win-over-angels/c-274480404
In the seventh, Sabathia got Rene Rivera to chop a would-be inning-ending grounder to shortstop Didi Gregorius, who slipped on what was scored an infield hit. Sabathia recovered, getting Ian Kinsler to fly out to right field."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-leads-yankees-to-win-over-angels/c-274480404
"You just go out and keep making pitches," Sabathia said. "All that stuff doesn't matter. You've got to keep making pitches, one at a time, and try to give these guys more opportunities to make a play for you." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-leads-yankees-to-win-over-angels/c-274480404
Aroldis Chapman worked a scoreless ninth inning for his sixth save, completing the Yankees' first road sweep of the Angels since July 29-31, 2003. New York acquired Boone, a third baseman and future postseason hero, from the Reds on the date of the final game of that series. The Angels have lost nine of 12 games since beginning the year 13-3. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-leads-yankees-to-win-over-angels/c-274480404
MOMENT THAT MATTERED
Had it all the way: Pujols put a scare into the Yankees in the eighth inning, barreling a Chad Green fastball and driving it to left field for what momentarily appeared as though it could be a go-ahead, two-run homer. The ball came off Pujols' bat at 107.4 mph and had a hit probability of 84 percent. Brett Gardner tracked the rocket, falling down as he made the catch. After an Andrelton Simmons single, Green struck out Zack Cozart to end the threat."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-leads-yankees-to-win-over-angels/c-274480404
"[I was thinking], 'Please don't go over the fence,'" Green said. "I knew he got it well. I didn't think he got under it enough to hit it out, but I thought Gardy made a great play. I was just lucky that ball didn't get over his head. … The way we're winning is fun. The starting pitching has been fantastic for the last week and a half, and the offense has really carried us. It goes quick when you're winning, and that's good right now. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-leads-yankees-to-win-over-angels/c-274480404
HE SAID IT
"We can all click even more. We're getting the timely hitting, the things we need to win ballgames. And if it stays hot like that, where it's a different guy every night contributing, then we'll be tough, tough to beat." -- Giancarlo Stanton "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-leads-yankees-to-win-over-angels/c-274480404
With the win New York improves to 18-9 and is 2.0 games back in second place behind Boston who is leading the American League East. Los Angeles meanwhile dropped their fourth straight game and is in third place in the American League West with a record of 18-12. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/
As for Houston they come into the game against New York with a record of 19-10. "according tohttp://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/ with their most recent win coming against Oakland although they had to comeback to get the win.
Astros manager AJ Hinch preaches the importance of taking the extra 90 feet, whether that means going first to third base, second to home or simply advancing on a ground ball. An extra base by the offense typically means an extra throw the defense has to make, which increases the likelihood of mistakes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-rally-in-7th-inning-to-beat-oakland/c-274449878
The seventh inning of the Astros' 8-4 win over the A's on Sunday afternoon at Minute Maid Park served as prime example of why Hinch stresses aggressive baserunning. The Astros pushed the tempo on the bases, scoring three times with the help of three Oakland errors to pull away and win the series."according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-rally-in-7th-inning-to-beat-oakland/c-274449878
We are aggressive and we want to put pressure on them, and we did put pressure on them and got a few extra opportunities to make them handle the ball and make some acrobatic throws," Hinch said. "according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-rally-in-7th-inning-to-beat-oakland/c-274449878
The Astros (19-10) have tied last year's team for the club's best record through 29 games, with an American League Championship Series rematch with the Yankees beginning Monday at Minute Maid Park. "according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-rally-in-7th-inning-to-beat-oakland/c-274449878
"It's been a great April for us," Astros starting pitcher Gerrit Cole said. "according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-rally-in-7th-inning-to-beat-oakland/c-274449878
Cole, who struck out 12 batters and allowed three runs on six hits over 6 2/3 innings, set a club record with 61 strikeouts in April. He left the game with a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning and the tying run at second base before reliever Will Harris gave up a single to Jonathan Lucroy allowing the tying run to score."according thttps://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-rally-in-7th-inning-to-beat-oakland/c-274449878o
A's starter Trevor Cahill was pulled after he walked Alex Bregman to start the seventh, and the chaos began. Bregman stole second and took third on a throwing error by Lucroy. He then scored the go-ahead run when shortstop Marcus Semien dropped a popup off the bat of pinch-hitter Brian McCann."according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-rally-in-7th-inning-to-beat-oakland/c-274449878
"Part of our effective offense comes with some athleticism and with some aggressive baserunning," Hinch said. "I think it's been an underrated part of our season so far, is how aggressive we have been first to third, how aggressive we've been on some reads. In this series, taking an extra 90 feet or being given an extra 90 was huge." "according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-rally-in-7th-inning-to-beat-oakland/c-274449878
McCann, of course, isn't known as being athletic, but he scored all the way from first for the second time this season on an RBI double by Jake Mars, with the veteran catcher sliding home just ahead of the tag. Jake Marisnick went to third on a throwing error by pitcher Ryan Dull and scored on Altuve's single for a 6-3 lead. "according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-rally-in-7th-inning-to-beat-oakland/c-274449878
"I'm running as fast as I can, which is brutal, but I'm running until [third-base coach Gary Pettis] stops me," McCann said. "I don't score many times from first base. It felt good." "according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-rally-in-7th-inning-to-beat-oakland/c-274449878
SOUND SMART
The Astros' plus-66 run differential is a franchise record through 20 games. The previous record was plus-56 in 2004."according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-rally-in-7th-inning-to-beat-oakland/c-274449878
YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
McCann had a Sprint Speed of 23.6 feet per second when scoring from first base in the seventh inning. That's above his season average of 22 feet per second (league average if 27). His first-to-home time was 12.39 seconds. "according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-rally-in-7th-inning-to-beat-oakland/c-274449878
HE SAID IT
"Fortunately, I stacked a few good games in a row, so it's nice to get off to a good start." -- Cole, on striking out 61 batters, walking only eight and posting a 1.73 ERA in 41 ⅔ innings in April "according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-rally-in-7th-inning-to-beat-oakland/c-274449878
First pitch is set for 8:10pm from Minute Maid Park. The game will be televised on Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/schedule/2018-04