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BASEBALL

New York Heads North Looking To Bounce Back In The Opener Against Toronto

After playing a doubleheader in Detroit Monday and splitting the doubleheader with New York winning the opener and Detroit winning the finale   New York heads to Canada to take on an American League East opponent in Toronto on Tuesday where they hope to bounce back. 

New York comes into the game with a record of 38-18 while Toronto meanwhile comes into the game with a record of 26-33. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/

Veteran left-hander CC Sabathia will open the two -game series on Tuesday night. CC Sabathia comes into the game against Toronto with a record of 2-1 with a 3.73 earn run average.  Sabathia took a no-decision his last time out, permitting five runs (three earned) and eight hits over five innings in the Yankees' 6-5, 10-inning win over the Astros. He will oppose Toronto right -hander Marco Estrada who comes into the game against New York with a record of 2-6 with a 5.68 earn run average. Estrada is coming off a really rough month in the rotation. He wasn't able to complete five innings in either of his past two starts, and he has not won a game since April 20. Estrada has lost each of his four starts with a 6.53 ERA over that span. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy

As stated above New York is coming off splitting a doubleheader with Detroit.

New York and Detroit finally made up  their games from April that were postponed but one team may not win both games. 

That was the case Monday in Detroit as New York won the opener while Detroit meanwhile won the finale.

Giancarlo Stanton's home run made a resounding statement after he was hit by a Mike Fiers pitch, but it wouldn't be enough to carry the Yankees to their sixth straight win. Domingo German gave New York 6 2/3 innings, but he had consistency issues and the Yankees dropped Game 2 of Monday's doubleheader, 4-2, to the Tigers at Comerica Park. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-fall-to-tigers-split-doubleheader/c-279768470

"This is baseball," Aaron Judge said. "Days like this happen. Just have to stick with the approach and get ready for Toronto." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-fall-to-tigers-split-doubleheader/c-279768470

Counter to the offensive outpouring the Yankees mustered in Game 1, when they claimed a 7-4 win, Game 2 offered few chances for racking up runs. German and Fiers both limited the damage and forced a close game. However, the Yankees' offense was unable to capitalize on opportunities in the third and fourth innings, and it proved costly despite Stanton's home run off of Fiers in the sixth inning. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-fall-to-tigers-split-doubleheader/c-279768470

The homer proved to be a measure of payback for Stanton, who didn't hide his displeasure after being hit in the arm by a Fiers fastball in the third inning and was restrained by Tigers catcher James McCann, who walked him up the first-base line. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-fall-to-tigers-split-doubleheader/c-279768470

It was Fiers who hit Stanton, then with the Marlins, in the jaw in a scary incident in September 2014, which ended his season."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-fall-to-tigers-split-doubleheader/c-279768470

"I'm not trying to stir this up, that just is what it is, obviously," said Stanton, who mashed his 13th home run of the season 456 feet, as projected by Statcast™. "Anything like that that happens, no matter how many years it is, I'm not going to be happy. I'm not going to just walk to first and be OK, but it is what it is." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-fall-to-tigers-split-doubleheader/c-279768470

"I understand ... but the way he handled it, I think it was kind of childish," said Fiers. "Anybody knows I'm not throwing at him." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-fall-to-tigers-split-doubleheader/c-279768470

German outlasted Fiers, but he gave up four runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking out three. German's shaky command resulted in too many opportunities for the Tigers, when the Yankees couldn't afford mistakes. The lasting mark for German came off the bat of Miguel Cabrera, who smacked a sharp line-drive double down the left-field line to drive him from the game. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-fall-to-tigers-split-doubleheader/c-279768470

He was struggling to find command of his fastball early and found it," manager Aaron Boone said. "I thought he settled into a nice groove after, a little bit earlier, kind of spraying it all over with the fastball. But he got into a good rhythm, and all in all, gave us a really strong outing." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-fall-to-tigers-split-doubleheader/c-279768470

With neither starting pitcher in complete command, both bullpens played a part. Adam Warren replaced German and gave up only one hit in 1 1/3 innings, but Victor Martinez took advantage of the change and poked an RBI double to score Cabrera for an insurance run on the third pitch by Warren. New York, meanwhile, mustered only one hit against the Tigers' bullpen. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-fall-to-tigers-split-doubleheader/c-279768470

MOMENT THAT MATTERED
In the third inning, after Brett Gardner tripled and scored Clint Frazier from first, Fiers walked Gary Sanchez and then hit Stanton, loading the bases. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-fall-to-tigers-split-doubleheader/c-279768470

It was a golden opportunity for the Yankees to push ahead against Fiers, who struggled with his command throughout the game. But the momentum was halted when Gleyber Torres, playing shortstop for the first time in his young career, grounded back to Fiers, who fired home for the inning-ending forceout."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-fall-to-tigers-split-doubleheader/c-279768470

HE SAID IT
"Oh it's not just a rough day, [it was] a terrible day. But that's the beauty of baseball, is you get to wake up and there's fresh at-bats tomorrow." -- Judge, who struck out five times in the nightcap after fanning three times in Game 1 "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-fall-to-tigers-split-doubleheader/c-279768470

Toronto meanwhile is coming off a win over the same opponent that New York split the doubleheader with.

Aaron Sanchez has not enjoyed the type of season he expected, but with the Blue Jays reeling through a three-city road trip, he rose to the occasion. The end result snapped Toronto's five-game losing streak. "according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-strong-over-6-innings-in-win/c-279608896

The Blue Jays won for just the fifth time in their last 20 games on Sunday afternoon, and Sanchez was the primary reason why. He allowed one run over six strong innings as Toronto avoided the three-game sweep with an 8-4 victory over the Tigers at Comerica Park. "according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-strong-over-6-innings-in-win/c-279608896

Toronto's lineup was held scoreless for the first five innings, but Sanchez bought the Blue Jays enough time to come to life with two runs in the sixth and four more in the seventh. Justin Smoak finished 3-for-5 with a home run, a double and three RBIs, and Sanchez picked up his first victory since April 30 after scattering two hits and three walks with seven strikeouts. "according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-strong-over-6-innings-in-win/c-279608896

"I thought [Sanchez] looked nice and free and easy," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "Something just looked different. To be honest, I can't tell you what it is. But it was more effortless today. He did a nice job, he really did. We scored a bunch." according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-strong-over-6-innings-in-win/c-279608896

Sanchez entered Sunday with a 5.96 ERA over his previous five starts and he had not completed six innings in more than a month. Command and an inconsistent release point had been areas of concern, but he was aggressive against the Tigers and frequently worked ahead in the count. Sanchez primarily went with his fastball, but he also sprinkled in 21 changeups and eight curveballs during his 100-pitch performance."according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-strong-over-6-innings-in-win/c-279608896

The only minor blip for Sanchez came in the bottom of the sixth, when Lonys Martin hit a solo homer to right for his seventh of the year. Sanchez was nearly flawless otherwise, allowing just two runners to reach scoring position as the Blue Jays improved to 4-8 in his 12 starts this season. The outing saw Sanchez's ERA drop to 4.48 in his first quality start since April 25. "according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-strong-over-6-innings-in-win/c-279608896

"For the most part, I just left it up to Russell [Martin]," Sanchez said. "He had a good game plan going into it. I didn't really talk to him much before, so he just kind of led the way. Defense made some good plays, out in center, Kevin [Pillar] made some good plays, got some good jumps on balls. Just a great team win. I think we needed that big time heading home and hopefully getting things rolling." "according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-strong-over-6-innings-in-win/c-279608896

Toronto's offense had been in an extended slumber heading into Sunday, with 443 total hits, which ranked last in the American League. The bats appeared headed for another quiet game against right-hander Michael Fulmer , but the lineup busted out over the final four frames. In addition to Smoak's two-run homer, Randal Grichuk hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning for his third home run of the season, and Aledmys Diaz also chipped in with a two-hit afternoon. "according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-strong-over-6-innings-in-win/c-279608896

"I feel like it's probably a sense of relief. We feel like as a group, just grinding out every at-bat and every play to try to be that guy to step up," Smoak said. "I feel like it kind of takes some pressure off and when the pressure comes off you see what happens. Guys go up there, have better at-bats and good things happen." "according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-strong-over-6-innings-in-win/c-279608896

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Sigh of relief: The Blue Jays carried an 8-1 lead into the bottom of the eighth, but the bullpen made it a little bit interesting. Neither Danny Barnes nor Aaron Loup could limit the damage, as two runs scored while they combined to record just one out. Gibbons handed the ball to right-hander Ryan Tepera who entered with runners on the corners and one out. Tepera came through by holding the Tigers to one more run, and he came back out for the ninth inning to close out the game. "according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-strong-over-6-innings-in-win/c-279608896

"It was not supposed to be that difficult, but we closed it out," Gibbons said. "according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-strong-over-6-innings-in-win/c-279608896

Piling on: The Blue Jays pieced together a four-run inning for the first time since May 19. The long overdue outbreak occurred in the top of the seventh and multiple Toronto hitters got in on the action. Smoak and Grichuk had RBI doubles, while Diaz and Yangerives Solarte   chipped in with RBI singles. Two of those runs were charged to Fulmer, as he finished with four runs over six-plus frames. The other two were charged to reliever Warwick Saupold. "according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-strong-over-6-innings-in-win/c-279608896

"It feels good," Grichuk said, of the previously elusive tack-on runs. "They tried to put up a little scare there at the end, so a team is never really out of it, but it feels good to be up 8-1 at that one point. Knowing you just have to get outs and put the game away." "according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-strong-over-6-innings-in-win/c-279608896

SOUND SMART
Smoak has reached base in all but four of his 53 games this season. He has 10 multi-hit games, and two games with multiple extra-base hits. "according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-strong-over-6-innings-in-win/c-279608896

HE SAID IT
"First time you've been interviewed in a while, ain't it?" Gibbons jokingly asked Smoak after the game, as Smoak held court with reporters. "according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-strong-over-6-innings-in-win/c-279608896

Smoak didn't miss a beat. "according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-strong-over-6-innings-in-win/c-279608896

"At least I'm doing it," he replied with a smile, in reference to Gibbons' decision to decline speaking to the media on Saturday following the club's fifth consecutive loss."according tohttps://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-strong-over-6-innings-in-win/c-279608896

First pitch is set for 7:07pm from the Rogers Centre. The game will be televised on Yes. according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/schedule/2018-06