New York Looks To Bounce Back In The Opener Against Boston
After losing the finale against Baltimore New York will look to bounce back against their American League East rival Boston Thursday in the opener of their four-game series at Fenway Park.
New York comes into the game with a record of 68-38 and is second in the division while Boston meanwhile is first in the division and comes into the game with a record of 75-34. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/gameday/yankees-vs-red-sox/2018/08/02/531045#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=531045
The veteran left-hander CC Sabathia will start for New York. He comes into the game with a record of 6-4 with a 3.53 earn run average. "according to http://m.mlb.com/player/282332/cc-sabathia Last time out, Sabathia permitted two runs on six hits through 4 2/3 innings. In 41 career starts against Boston, Sabathia has gone 18-13 with a 4.12 ERA. He last faced the Red Sox on June 29, allowing just one run through seven frames. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy He will oppose Boston left-hander Brian Johnson who comes into the game with a record of 1-3 with a 3.45 earn run average. "according to http://m.mlb.com/player/598271/brian-johnson The lefty has been solid every time the Red Sox have needed him as a starter this season, and he gets another chance with Chris Sale currently on the disabled list. Johnson is 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA in six starts."according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy
As for New York's previous game, they lost to Baltimore in the finale of a two-game set.
With a crucial four-game series against the first-place Red Sox beginning on Thursday, it appeared as if the Yankees' focus had already shifted to Boston as the club played all too loose against the Orioles in Wednesday's matinee, resulting in a 7-5 loss in the series finale at Yankee Stadium. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-288411540
Although he had won his previous three starts, Yankees starter Sonny Gray put New York in an early 5-0 hole in the second, allowing RBI base hits to Trey Mancini, Renato Nunez and Tim Beckham, and his afternoon came to a close after being charged with seven runs in just 2 2/3 innings, causing Yankees manager Aaron Boone to reconsider whether Gray will remain part of the starting rotation. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-288411540
"That's something that we'll talk about now in the days ahead about what our plans will be going forward," Boone said. "We do have some options now, so we will all get together and try and come up with the best solution, the best options going forward that are going to help us win in the end. That's what it's about. We're not going to be emotional about this now. We will get together and talk about this and see what the best thing is." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-288411540
An option that the Yankees now have would be to replace Gray with newly acquired right-hander Lance Lynn, who made quite a strong first impression in his Yankees debut, permitting five hits through 4 1/3 scoreless frames in relief and striking out five batters. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-288411540
"My whole career has been when they tell me to pitch, I go pitch," Lynn said. "I try not to think about anything except getting whatever hitter is in the box out. If I do that, I'll be fine." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-288411540
Gray said that he hopes he will get the ball again in five days, but knows that it is not his decision to make. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-288411540
"At the end of the day, I want them to do whatever is best to help us win, whatever that may be," Gray said. "Whatever happens, if I get the ball in five days, then I'm going to take it and I'm going to go compete, and I'm going to do my best and I'm going to try to put us in a good position to win the game. But if not, then I'm going to be right there doing whatever I'm called upon [to do]." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-288411540
On top of Gray's struggles on the mound, the Yankees' defense was rather lackadaisical, including two plays where Gleyber Torres was late to cover a bag. In the second, Torres was late to cover first base on a bunt by Caleb Joseph that loaded the bases. In the third, he didn't cover second on a ground ball to Didi Gregorius, who looked toward second for the inning-ending forceout before throwing late to first as a run scored. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-288411540
"I know I missed a play at second base. I really [don't feel good about] that," Torres said. "I'm human. I make errors for sure. ... I try to be professional and be ready for next time and try to [make sure] it won't happen anymore." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-288411540
Just prior to the 39-minute rain delay in the middle of the third, third-base coach Phil Nevin was caught on camera expressing his frustration regarding the lack of effort by yelling at the players in the dugout. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-288411540
"Sometimes messages come from a manager so many times, it's different coming from a manager, coming from a coach, coming from teammates," Nevin said. "You'd have to ask all of them how it was received. Like I said, just firing the guys up. We had plenty of time to get back in that game, I think it was only the third inning, so that was it." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-288411540
The Yankees got on the board in the second on a solo shot to right by Torres and scored in the eighth as Miguel Andujar recorded New York's first hit with the bases loaded since July 11. New York put together a late rally in the ninth as Torres blasted his second homer of the game -- a three-run shot to left with two outs -- but the club was unable to complete the comeback. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-288411540
SOUND SMART
Torres is the second player in Yankees history to record at least two multihomer games before turning 22 years old, joining Joe DiMaggio, who had three in 1936. Torres is also the eighth player in Major League history -- and first Yankee -- to hit at least 17 home runs in his first 70 career games before turning 22 years old. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-yankees-lose-to-orioles/c-288411540
As for Boston's previous game, Like New York they are coming off a loss.
It's still hard to know what to make of Drew Pomeranz this season, but the lefty at least kept the Red Sox in the game on Tuesday night. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-unable-to-back-drew-pomeranz-in-loss/c-288225294
With the bats unable to generate much against Jake Arrieta or the Phillies' bullpen, the Red Sox took a 3-1 loss at Fenway Park. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-unable-to-back-drew-pomeranz-in-loss/c-288225294
As for Pomeranz (1-5, 6.56 ERA), there isn't much he can do but take some positives out of slight progress. The lefty threw 95 pitches over five innings but minimized the damage, allowing only two runs. He walked four, struck out three and hit two batters. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-unable-to-back-drew-pomeranz-in-loss/c-288225294
"From the third inning on, I felt like my curveball got a little better, my fastball had a little more ride to it," Pomeranz said. "Something I've been working on is using my legs a bit more, and I kind of figured something out there. I still walked a few guys, hit a couple guys, but I'd much rather walk a guy or hit a guy than give up a double off the wall. Felt like I made pitches when I needed to." "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-unable-to-back-drew-pomeranz-in-loss/c-288225294
To say that 2018 has been disjointed for Pomeranz would be an understatement. He started the season on the disabled list with a flexor strain in his left elbow. After returning to action on April 20, Pomeranz made eight mostly ineffective starts before suffering left biceps tendinitis, which kept him out of action from June 1 to July 23. His first start back in Baltimore wasn't good, and Tuesday was, well, OK. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-unable-to-back-drew-pomeranz-in-loss/c-288225294
"It's a little frustrating with all the stopping and starting I've had and all the annoying injuries," Pomeranz said. "It's hard to find consistency in that. It's no mystery something has been off this year from last year and the last couple years. Just trying to hone in on that one thing. Today I made good strides, and you just try to run with that, not try to change too many things up and see what happens." according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-unable-to-back-drew-pomeranz-in-loss/c-288225294
It remains to be seen how long Pomeranz stays in the rotation.Chris Sale was placed on the DL before Tuesday's game, and Brian Johnson will take his slot on Thursday against the Yankees, so that could buy Pomeranz a little more time to fix himself. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-unable-to-back-drew-pomeranz-in-loss/c-288225294
"It doesn't look great, but for him to go out there and give us a chance to win, we'll take that," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. "Obviously we were a little bit short today as far as our bullpen, but still, it was better than the one in Baltimore. We'll go to the tape and keep working and try to keep getting better." "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-unable-to-back-drew-pomeranz-in-loss/c-288225294
At 75-34, the Red Sox lead the Yankees by five games in the American League East. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-unable-to-back-drew-pomeranz-in-loss/c-288225294
The Red Sox made it interesting in the ninth, putting runners at first and second with nobody out against Phillies righty Seranthony Dominguez. But Dominguez was able to wiggle his way out of it. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-unable-to-back-drew-pomeranz-in-loss/c-288225294
On a night Mookie Betts was out of the lineup to rest, the entire lineup was quiet, going 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Betts did pinch-hit and popped out for the second out in the ninth. In his Red Sox debut , Ian Kinsler went 1-for-4."according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-unable-to-back-drew-pomeranz-in-loss/c-288225294
The Phillies held Boston to a total of three runs in 22 innings in this two-game series, which the teams split. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-unable-to-back-drew-pomeranz-in-loss/c-288225294
"Well, they pitched their two horses, and they've been good against everybody," said Cora. "They're a good young team and put in good at-bats, good defense. Their guys in the bullpen got stuff. Those two guys, Aaron Nola and Arrieta, they're pretty solid." "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-unable-to-back-drew-pomeranz-in-loss/c-288225294
Shut down by Arrieta for much of the night and trailing 2-1, the Red Sox finally got a run home in the sixth when J.D. Martinez smashed a double that moved Blake Swihart to third, and Xander Bogaerts followed with a fielder's-choice groundout to short. Kinsler tried to tie it up with a hard liner to right, but Nick Williams came on for the catch. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-unable-to-back-drew-pomeranz-in-loss/c-288225294
FROM THE TRAINERS ROOM
There was some cause for concern in the ninth, when Bogaerts got belted on the right hand by a pitch from Dominguez. Though X-rays were negative, Bogaerts was in pain after the game. He has a right hand contusion, the same injury he suffered in July 2017. It is unclear if Bogaerts will be ready to return on Thursday, when the Red Sox open a four-game series against the Yankees. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-unable-to-back-drew-pomeranz-in-loss/c-288225294
"I got hit good," said Bogaerts. "Let it heal. The swelling is down. I iced it already. Just talk to the trainers and see whatever they have in mind." "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-unable-to-back-drew-pomeranz-in-loss/c-288225294
SOUND SMART
Though president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski endured some second-guessing for not upgrading the bullpen prior to Tuesday's non-waiver Trade Deadline, it should be noted that Boston relievers have allowed just one run in the last 15 1/3 innings. "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-unable-to-back-drew-pomeranz-in-loss/c-288225294
HE SAID IT
"It's that big, green wall staring at you. I tend to hit a lot of balls that way so it works out well. Obviously the fans, it's the intensity of every single game. Every game played at Fenway is a special game, so it's a lot of fun to be on the field here." -- Kinsler, when asked why Boston has always been one of his favorite cities to travel to "according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/red-sox-unable-to-back-drew-pomeranz-in-loss/c-288225294
First pitch is set for 7:10pm. The game will be televised on Major League Baseball Network and Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/schedule/2018-08