Luis Severino To Start The Opener As New York Takes On Boston
The last time the two American League East rivals met was when New York went to Fenway Park for a three game series in April where there was also some extra curricular activity and because of that New York's Tyler Austin and Boston right-hander Joe Kelly got suspended for an amount of games. That series is now behind us so lets focus on their upcoming three-game series starting Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.
Luis Severino will get the start for New York. The right-hander comes into the game against Boston with a record of 5-1 to go along with a 2.11 earn run average. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/_/id/33263/luis-severino
The Yanks' ace is coming off his first career shutout, a five-hitter on Wednesday vs. the Astros. In four starts since allowing five runs in five innings in a loss to Boston, Severino has a 1.24 ERA, with five walks and 32 strikeouts in 29 innings. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy He wil oppose Boston left-hander Drew Pomeranz who comes into the game against New York with a record of 1-1 with a 6.14 earn run average. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/31010/drew-pomeranz The lefty showed improved velocity and command in the latter stages of his third start back from the disabled list, as he allowed 3 earned runs over 6 innings. Pomeranz has pitched well at Yankee Stadium in his career, going 3-2 with a 3.12 ERA "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy
New York comes into the game against Boston with a record of 24-10 and is currently on a six-game winning streak "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/standings with their most recent win coming Sunday in the finale against Cleveland.
For two weeks now, Gleyber Torres has been in the Major Leagues with the Yankees. For two weeks now, the Yankees have been winning games, day after day, night after night. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-homer-vs-indians/c-275566406
Call it The Gleyber Effect if you want, or just point out the Yankees have lost only one game since he showed up. And point out that it was Torres' three-run, walk-off home run that extended the run Sunday at Yankee Stadium, giving the Yankees a 7-4 win over the Indians. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-homer-vs-indians/c-275566406
The Yankees swept away the Indians over the weekend. They've won six in a row and 15 of 16, starting from the day before Torres' April 22 debut. They've done it against the Twins, Astros and Indians -- the three teams they met in the playoffs last October -- as well as the Angels, the team leading the American League West. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-homer-vs-indians/c-275566406
This team is super-awesome," Torres said Sunday, and no one was going to argue with him. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-homer-vs-indians/c-275566406
The 21-year-old second baseman has been pretty good himself, and when he sent a Dan Otero pitch rocketing over the center-field fence with one out in the ninth inning, he made Yankee history, becoming the youngest player in franchise history (21 years, 144 days) to hit a walk-off home run. In doing so he surpassed Mickey Mantle, who was 41 days older when he did it against the Red Sox in 1953. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-homer-vs-indians/c-275566406
Torres also made two more fine defensive plays Sunday, helping fellow rookie Domingo German get through six hitless innings in his first Major League start. German was brilliant, but he left after six because of his pitch count, and the Indians took a 4-0 eighth-inning lead against the Yankees' bullpen. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-homer-vs-indians/c-275566406
No problem, as it turned out, because the Yankees scored three times in the bottom of the eighth and four more in the ninth. Neil Walker's double off Cody Allen tied the game and set up Torres for his big moment. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-homer-vs-indians/c-275566406
The kid took it from there, working the count to 3-1 before fouling off one sinker and then getting another he could handle. Torres wasn't sure he hit it far enough to go out, but the ball carried 415 feet, according to Statcast™, with a 104.4-mph exit velocity. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-homer-vs-indians/c-275566406
Manager Aaron Boone, who said the day Torres arrived that he wasn't sure the top prospect had any "wow" skills, said Sunday he has now seen it. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-homer-vs-indians/c-275566406
"He did 'wow' me," Boone said. "I think the intangible thing is maybe the off-the-chart [skill] he has. It seems the bigger the moment, the better he is. He didn't even flinch. That's just a big-boy, mature at-bat from a good hitter. And he hammered that ball." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-homer-vs-indians/c-275566406
He gave the Yankees a win in a game they easily could have lost, after they managed just one hit in 7 1/3 innings against Indians starter Mike Clevinger. Clevinger did walk two of the three batters he faced in the eighth, and an Indians bullpen that is without injured ex-Yankee Andrew Miller couldn't take it from there. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-homer-vs-indians/c-275566406
Eventually it came down to Torres, and the kid won it. The Yankees had their 15th win in 16 games, matching their best stretch since 1961 (they also went 15-1 during September 1980). "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-homer-vs-indians/c-275566406
They did it with a win worth remembering. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-homer-vs-indians/c-275566406
"To win games like this is integral to winning a division," Walker said. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-homer-vs-indians/c-275566406
The Yankees are winning nearly every game these days. It's been this way for two weeks, ever since Torres arrived. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-homer-vs-indians/c-275566406
It hasn't all been because of him. Sunday, though, it was his hit that did it.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Sterling at the keystone: In his entire Minor League career, Torres played 14 games at second base. He made his 15th Major League start at the position Sunday, and made two fine plays to keep German's innings hitless. Torres went to his right on a Michael Brantley ground ball to start the second inning, then far to his left on a Tyler Naquin grounder to end the fifth. "according tohttps://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-homer-vs-indians/c-275566406
"He's shown good range at second base," Boone said Sunday morning. "More range than I anticipated, frankly.""according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-homer-vs-indians/c-275566406
SOUND SMART
German became the first Yankee to leave after pitching at least six hitless innings since Phil Hughes, who went 6 1/3 on May 1, 2007, in Texas but departed with a pulled hamstring. The last Yankee no-hitter was David Cone's perfect game against the Expos in 1999. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-homer-vs-indians/c-275566406
German was the first pitcher since the mound was moved to 60 feet, six inches in 1893 to throw at least six hitless innings with at least nine strikeouts in his first career start, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He was the first Yankee since Hideki Irabu in 1997 to strike out at least nine in his first start, and the first Yankee ever to go at least six innings without allowing a hit in his first start. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-homer-vs-indians/c-275566406
Boston meanwhile comes into the series against New York with a record of 25-9 and is leading the American League East and is also on a three-game winning streak. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/standings with their most recent win coming against Texas.
Red Sox ace Chris Sale had mastered the art of the strong start this season but was lacking the utter dominance his reputation has been built on. That all changed on Sunday afternoon when the lanky lefty put on a pitching clinic in leading his team to a 6-1 victory over the Rangers at Globe Life Park. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-strikes-out-12-dominates-rangers/c-275577888
Over seven innings, Sale (3-1, 2.02 ERA) recorded a season-high 12 strikeouts and one walk. He allowed four hits and just one run, which came on a homer by Ryan Rua in the seventh."according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-strikes-out-12-dominates-rangers/c-275577888
"It seems like he wanted to stop all the talk about not throwing hard anymore," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "Change of speeds, good changeup, good slider that was on top of hitters. He was elevating the fastball. His velocity was up there, and that was a great performance." "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-strikes-out-12-dominates-rangers/c-275577888
This was Sale at his finest. His slider regained lethal status, inducing 13 of his season-high 23 swinging strikes. Sale's four-seamer averaged 96.6 mph, and he threw one pitch at 99.2 mph. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-strikes-out-12-dominates-rangers/c-275577888
"Yeah, I was able to get a pretty good feel for it," Sale said of his slider. "[Assistant pitching coach Brian Bannister] was in here early and saw something and he was trying to tell me how to correct that, and after that, it was pretty good." "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-strikes-out-12-dominates-rangers/c-275577888
The Red Sox gave Sale plenty of support on a day he didn't need much. J.D. Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo homer to raise his average to .349. Backup catcher Sandy Leon belted a three-run homer to break it open in the sixth. Mitch Moreland, who seems to contribute every time he starts, finished 2-for-4 with an RBI double against his former club. "According tohttps://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-strikes-out-12-dominates-rangers/c-275577888
The Red Sox gave Sale plenty of support on a day he didn't need much. J.D. Martinez went 2-for-4 with a solo homer to raise his average to .349. Backup catcher Sandy Leon belted a three-run homer to break it open in the sixth. Mitch Moreland, who seems to contribute every time he starts, finished 2-for-4 with an RBI double against his former club."according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-strikes-out-12-dominates-rangers/c-275577888
"He's a good hitter. He proved it last year. He had a great season," Cora said of Moreland. "That's one of the reasons we brought him back. You take a look at what he's doing right now -- and not only on the field but in the clubhouse, what he brings to the equation -- it's great. He's putting pressure on the manager to play more. I like that." "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-strikes-out-12-dominates-rangers/c-275577888
The only down note for Boston in this one was star right fielder Mookie Betts leaving the game in the bottom of the second inning with a right shoulder contusion he sustained when he was hit by a throw in the first. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-strikes-out-12-dominates-rangers/c-275577888
After losing the opener in Texas on Thursday night, the Red Sox came back to win the next three games and take an MLB-best 25-9 record to New York for a three-game series against the torrid Yankees, which starts on Tuesday. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-strikes-out-12-dominates-rangers/c-275577888
Sale expressed disappointment that he won't get the chance to pitch in that big series, but he heads to the Big Apple secure in the knowledge that he has regained his best pitch -- the slider. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-strikes-out-12-dominates-rangers/c-275577888
"It's probably been the main concern," Sale said. "Like I said, early on, it wasn't where we wanted it to be. With [pitching coach] Dana [LeVangie] and Banny looking at some video -- we actually looked at a lot of video -- and I kind of got back to where we wanted to be with stiff front side and release point. A couple of other things, couple of other cues that get me where I needed to be, so without them, I'd probably still be lost." according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-strikes-out-12-dominates-rangers/c-275577888
It says something about the standards Sale has set for himself that, for him, "lost" still amounted to a 2.14 ERA entering Sunday's start. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-strikes-out-12-dominates-rangers/c-275577888
"He was on point today," Moreland said. "He had everything working. It's nice to play behind him on days like that, especially when you get down to Texas and it's a little bit warmer. Advantage, Chris Sale. He did a great job from the first pitch." "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-strikes-out-12-dominates-rangers/c-275577888
MOMENT THAT MATTERED
Everyone in the dugout was ecstatic to see Leon hit his first homer of the season. The catcher has struggled at the plate, but he is widely respected for his selfless attitude and ability to handle the pitching staff. Leon's homer off former batterymate Doug Fister traveled a projected distance of 398 feet, according to Statcast, and gave Sale a 5-0 lead. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-strikes-out-12-dominates-rangers/c-275577888
"It seems like he saw the ball well against Doug," Cora said. "At one point, I was wondering if catching him or whatever, if it helps you. I don't know if that's the case, but he laid off some good pitches and he put a great swing on it. You've got to give him credit, man. He works and he understands the situation. He's not playing as much, but whenever he's playing, he's doing the job behind the plate." "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-strikes-out-12-dominates-rangers/c-275577888
MOOKIE BANGED UP
The injury to Betts took place when he was advancing from first to second on a grounder by Andrew Benintendi. The throw by first baseman Ronald Guzman struck him on the right shoulder blade and caused a numbing sensation in his right hand. It was Cora's choice to take him out of the game. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-strikes-out-12-dominates-rangers/c-275577888
"He's OK," Cora said. "The ball hit him in the shoulder. He didn't feel great, so I took him out. It makes sense for us. Day-and-a-half off and it should be something day to day. Hopefully ready for Tuesday." "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-strikes-out-12-dominates-rangers/c-275577888
SOUND SMART
About to face their biggest road test of the season at Yankee Stadium, the Red Sox are 5-1 in road series (9-2 overall) this season. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-strikes-out-12-dominates-rangers/c-275577888
HE SAID IT
"It'll be fun. They're rolling, we're catching our stride again, and it'll be fun. That'll be our first time going to New York, so I wish I was getting the ball in one of those games, but there's only so much you can do."
-- Sale, on the upcoming showdown at Yankee Stadium "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-strikes-out-12-dominates-rangers/c-275577888
MITEL REPLAY OF THE DAY
Moreland is getting it done with his bat and glove. The Rangers had a chance to load the bases with two outs in the third when Jurickson Profar, up with two on, was called safe at first on a ground ball to third baseman Rafael Devers. However, after initially being pulled off the bag by the wide throw, Moreland was able to maneuver his foot back to the bag just before Profar crossed first. Profar was initially called safe, but the Red Sox challenged it, and it was overturned to end the bottom of the third inning. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-strikes-out-12-dominates-rangers/c-275577888
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/2018-05
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