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BASEBALL

New York Looks To Bounce Back In The Opener Against Boston

When you think of the New York, Boston rivalry what do you think of? Do you think of how many games they go head to head every season? 

They're about to meet again with Boston traveling to visit the Bronx starting Friday for a three -game series against New York to battle for first place supremacy in the American League East. 

Coming into the series New York has a record of 52-26  and is second in the American League East while Boston meanwhile comes into the opener against New York with a record of 55-27 and is leading the division by half a game.

The veteran left-hander CC Sabathia will get the start in the opener of the three -game series. He has a record of 4-3 to go along with a 3.18 earn run average, "according to http://m.mlb.com/player/282332/cc-sabathia

Sabathia has lost his last two starts, both to the Rays, despite limiting them to five runs (four earned) with 14 strikeouts over 13 innings. He faced Boston on May 10 in the Bronx, allowing four runs and nine hits over four innings. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy He will oppose Boston left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez who comes into the opener with a record of 9-2 with a 3.86 earn run average. "according to http://m.mlb.com/player/593958/eduardo-rodriguez Despite struggling against the Mariners, when he allowed 5 runs in 4 innings, Rodriguez has been solid, with a 2.97 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in the past seven games. Against the Yankees on May 10, he struck out eight over five scoreless innings. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy

As for New York's previous game, they were shutout by Philadelphia in the finale of a three -game series.

The frequently voiced mantra in baseball is that you never should look too far ahead, a theory that manager Aaron Boone generally subscribes to. The Yankees made an exception for a crucial series against the Red Sox, attempting to set up as best as possible for an upcoming showdown between the top clubs in the American League East. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-shut-out-by-phillies-in-finale/c-283203304

With CC Sabathia tabbed to open the Boston set, Luis Cessa struggled in a three-inning spot start on Wednesday while the Phillies' Zach Eflin breezed past a diminished lineup that permitted Aaron Judge's big bat to rest. Philadelphia salvaged the finale of the Interleague series with a 3-0 victory, ending a 2-4 road swing for the Bombers. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-shut-out-by-phillies-in-finale/c-283203304

We feel like we've got a really good team," Brett Gardner said. "Obviously, this wasn't a great road trip for us. [The Red Sox] have got a really good team. We've been right there within a game or two of them, it seems like all year. It'll probably be that way for the next few months, too. It's always a battle with those guys." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-shut-out-by-phillies-in-finale/c-283203304

Aaron Hicks contributed two of New York's four hits in the contest, and as Eflin fired seven impressive innings, the Yankees almost appeared to be fast-forwarding to the intense games that await on the other side of their bus ride north up the New Jersey Turnpike. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-shut-out-by-phillies-in-finale/c-283203304

"It was definitely nice to come here and bounce back and have a good series against a tough team," Boone said. "Obviously, going into the off-day [on Thursday], it would've been really nice to really finish off and turn it into a pretty good trip, but we'll move on." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-shut-out-by-phillies-in-finale/c-283203304

Making his first big league start of the season, Cessa threw 74 pitches, including a 1-2 slider in the second inning that Rhys Hoskins slugged over the wall in right field for a three-run homer. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-shut-out-by-phillies-in-finale/c-283203304

The Phils made more loud contact against Cessa in the third, though the righty was bailed out by Gardner and Giancarlo Stanton, who contributed a pair of excellent back-to-back grabs that robbed Carlos Santana and Aaron Altherr of hits. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-shut-out-by-phillies-in-finale/c-283203304

"Gardy made an amazing catch. Giancarlo made an amazing catch, too," said Cessa, who was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after Wednesday's game. "After that, I'm thinking, 'OK, we're competing again.' Really amazing catches." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-shut-out-by-phillies-in-finale/c-283203304

Giovanny Gallegos kept the game close, striking out a career-high six over three scoreless innings, and the Yankees got uneventful frames from Jonathan Holder and Domingo German. New York's bats were unable to break through against Eflin, who walked two and struck out six before Seranthony Dominguez logged a six-out save. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-shut-out-by-phillies-in-finale/c-283203304

"Eflin, you can see why they're excited about him," Boone said. "I thought he threw the ball really well and really was in command. He shut us down. We were pretty quiet." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-shut-out-by-phillies-in-finale/c-283203304

SOUND SMART
Since being recalled on April 21, Holder has not allowed an earned run in 23 relief appearances. That's the longest streak in the American League this season, and tied for the second-longest in the Majors (Yoshihisa Hirano of the D-backs has tallied 24). Holder has retired 83 of 97 batters during the streak. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-shut-out-by-phillies-in-finale/c-283203304

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Gardner stole an extra-base hit from Santana in the third inning, reaching above his head to snare the deep drive while slamming into the left-field fence. Gardner said that he was momentarily stunned by the play, but shook it off and remained in the game without issue. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-shut-out-by-phillies-in-finale/c-283203304

"I think I was expecting it to go a little further and a little more in the gap," Gardner said. "I had run sideways on the warning track for it. I was thinking it was hit better than that; I think the wind knocked it down a little bit. I was fortunate to get to it." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-shut-out-by-phillies-in-finale/c-283203304

Two pitches later, Stanton was in motion, tracking Altherr's line drive toward the right-field corner. Stanton secured the ball in front of the auxiliary scoreboard on what was rated a four-star catch by Statcast™, with a 30 percent catch probability. Stanton had to cover 83 feet in 4.9 seconds to make the play. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-shut-out-by-phillies-in-finale/c-283203304

"I thought Giancarlo got a great break on the ball in the corner; tough play, slicing away from him," Boone said. "Really good play out there by both those guys to keep it a game, really." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-shut-out-by-phillies-in-finaleUP

As for Boston's previous game, they not only beat the Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim but they swept the season series. 

Boosted by exceptional, against-the-wall catches from Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr., the efforts of starter Brian Johnson and the Boston bullpen were enough to lift the Red Sox to a 4-2 win over the Angels on Thursday at Fenway Park. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-show-great-d-pitching-to-beat-angels/c-283376376

With the win, the Red Sox swept the six-game season series against the Angels. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-show-great-d-pitching-to-beat-angels/c-283376376

Thanks in part to home runs from Rafael Devers and Bradley, the Red Sox built a lead they would not relinquish. The Angels threatened to tie it in the eighth inning, scoring a run on an Albert Pujols single and having two runners on when David Fletcher lined a ball toward the Green Monster. But Benintendi made a magnificent leaping catch to rob Fletcher of a hit that would have driven in at least one run, and Boston reliever Joe Kelly induced a flyout off the bat of Luis Valbuena to get out of the inning. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-show-great-d-pitching-to-beat-angels/c-283376376

"[Benintendi has] been good," manager Alex Cora said. "He's an all-around player, and when [Fletcher] hit it, I thought he didn't get it, honestly. The reaction was great, and it gave us a chance. That play is a game-changer." "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-show-great-d-pitching-to-beat-angels/c-283376376

Bradley had a similar jaw-dropping snag in the first inning, leaping in front of the center-field wall to catch a Justin Upton liner. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-show-great-d-pitching-to-beat-angels/c-283376376

"Incredible," Johnson said of Bradley's catch. "Been seeing it since college. I would say it's surprising, but it's not. I'm just grateful to have him on my team." "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-show-great-d-pitching-to-beat-angels/c-283376376

Johnson made his eighth career start Thursday -- his second this season -- with Steven Wright on the disabled list due to left knee inflammation. Andrelton Simmons gave the Angels the lead in the fourth inning, crushing a Johnson curveball over the Green Monster for a solo home run. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-show-great-d-pitching-to-beat-angels/c-283376376

"Good swing," Johnson said. "I mean, it's probably the best pitch I have, so it's what I went with, and he put a great swing on it." "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-show-great-d-pitching-to-beat-angels/c-283376376

Aside from the eighth-inning drama, the Red Sox bullpen shut down the Angels, holding them to one run over the final five innings. Johnson allowed three hits and a run over four innings, a start he was pleased with, though he had been aiming to get through five. Hector Velazquez followed with two scoreless innings, and Brandon Workman, Kelly and Craig Kimbrel each pitched an inning to close it out. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-show-great-d-pitching-to-beat-angels/c-283376376

The win gives the Red Sox a one-game edge over the Yankees in the American League East standings as the teams prepare to face off this weekend. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-show-great-d-pitching-to-beat-angels/c-283376376

Thursday was a promising sign for Johnson's stint as a starter, as well as Velazquez's role in backing him up. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-show-great-d-pitching-to-beat-angels/c-283376376

"B.J. was outstanding," Cora said. "Using his fastball, mixing up his breaking ball. Just one [run], and Simmons is a good hitter. Very pleased with the way we got six innings out of those two guys." "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-show-great-d-pitching-to-beat-angels/c-283376376

Johnson said he and Velazquez like to laugh about their shared responsibility, the season-long toggle between spot starters and relievers. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-show-great-d-pitching-to-beat-angels/c-283376376

"We kind of joke about it," Johnson said. "We're ready whenever, and we just love being here. Whatever it takes to help the team." "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-show-great-d-pitching-to-beat-angels/c-283376376

SOUND SMART
Thursday's win marked the first time in more than 100 years that the Red Sox have swept a six-game season series. And Boston's 20 home runs in those six games set the MLB record for the most against one opponent in a season series of six or fewer games. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-show-great-d-pitching-to-beat-angels/c-283376376

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
In the first inning, Upton sent the ball soaring to the center-field wall. But Bradley was ready. He sprinted to snag the ball over his head before crashing into the wall. Upton hit the ball with an exit velocity of 101.6 mph at a launch angle of 22 degrees and a projected distance of 393 feet, per Statcast™, giving him a hit probability of 76 percent on the drive. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-show-great-d-pitching-to-beat-angels/c-283376376

First pitch is set for 7:05pm from Yankee Stadium. The game will be televised on NESN, Major League Baseball Network and Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/red-sox-vs-yankees/2018/06/29/530624?#game_state=preview,lock_state=preview,game_tab=,game=530624