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BASEBALL

Luis Severino, New York Go For The Sweep Of Baltimore

Players Weekend will conclude when New York takes on Baltimore on Sunday Night where New York will look to sweep their division rival as well as the four-game series while Baltimore meanwhile will  look to salvage one game out of the series. 

New York comes into the game with a record of 82 -47 and is second in the American League East. Baltimore meanwhile comes into the game with a record of 37-93 and is last in the division. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/

Luis Severino  who's nickname is Sevy for Players Weekend will start for New York The right -hander  comes into the finale with a record of 16-6 with a 3.28 earn run average. "according to http://m.mlb.com/player/622663/luis-severino Severino will pitch on seven days' rest, having last worked Aug. 18 against the Blue Jays. Severino showed signs of improvement in that effort, striking out eight over five innings, but is 2-4 with a 7.26 ERA in six starts since the All-Star break. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy He will oppose Baltimore right -hander Dylan Bundy who's nickname for Players Weekend is Dilly  comes into the finale with a record of 7-12 with an earn run average of 5.31. "according to http://m.mlb.com/player/605164/dylan-bundy

As for New York and Baltimore's previous games, They played a day / night doubleheader on Saturday and New York won both.

Preparing to make his first start in nearly a month, Sonny Gray (Pickles) huddled with catcher Austin Romine (Ro) early on Saturday, voicing an intention to fill the zone with his fastball, slider and splitter. Those pitches kept the Orioles' aggressive lineup flailing, but the Yankees right-hander's most important weapon might be his rediscovered confidence. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-leads-yankees-to-doubleheader-sweep/c-291882698

A pair of excellent starting-pitching performances propelled the Yankees to a doubleheader sweep of the Orioles on Saturday, as Gray fired 6 1/3 scoreless innings to follow J.A. Happ's (Happer) winning afternoon effort. In a high point of what has been a trying campaign, Gray exited to a warm ovation as he departed New York's 5-1 nightcap victory at Camden Yards. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-leads-yankees-to-doubleheader-sweep/c-291882698

"If I can go out and throw the ball like that, I think I can get anybody out," Gray said. "I know I can get anybody out. I mean, I'm one of the best starting pitchers in this league and I truly believe that. I think it's that belief that'll continue to keep me moving forward and hopefully continue to have success from here on out." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-leads-yankees-to-doubleheader-sweep/c-291882698

Making his first start since Aug. 1, Gray cruised against the cellar-dwelling Birds, needing 79 pitches to work into the seventh inning while scattering three hits and striking out seven. Gray departed after issuing his only walk, bouncing excitedly after being cheered by the largely pro-Yankees crowd of 26,236. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-leads-yankees-to-doubleheader-sweep/c-291882698

With Happ's outing in the 10-3 Game 1 win, it sealed a day in which Yankees starters combined to permit two runs over 12 1/3 innings, moving within seven games of the division-leading Red Sox. New York's lead for the first American League Wild Card is 4 1/2 games over Oakland. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-leads-yankees-to-doubleheader-sweep/c-291882698

"He's been great for us," Aaron Hicks (Hicksie) said of Happ. "He's been a guy that has eaten up innings for us and he has been doing great. I love that he's here on our team. He's helping us get to where we want to be." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-leads-yankees-to-doubleheader-sweep/c-291882698

The effort marked Gray's deepest since going 6 2/3 innings June 23 in a loss at Tampa Bay. Although Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Gray would probably return to the bullpen, he added that Gray's role could continue to evolve, noting that he has been used effectively in extra-inning games, for length and now as a spot starter. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-leads-yankees-to-doubleheader-sweep/c-291882698

"I think I've grown a lot in this last month as a pitcher and as a person, just being in the bullpen," Gray said. "There's really nowhere to go. You're down there and I get to talk pitching with some of the best pitchers in the game, their mindsets and everything that goes into it. It's different being in the bullpen and I know ultimately I want to be a starter in this league, but I've learned a lot down there, for sure." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-leads-yankees-to-doubleheader-sweep/c-291882698

After belting four homers in the first game, the Yankees struck quickly against Andrew Cashner (Cash) in Game 2. The first three batters reached base to produce an instant lead, with Hicks continuing his productive day with a run-scoring hit, following a 3-for-5 showing in the first game. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-leads-yankees-to-doubleheader-sweep/c-291882698

In the second inning, Gleyber Torres (GT) dashed home on a wild pitch before Brett Gardner knocked in a run on a fielder's choice. Giancarlo Stanton (G) dented the right-field wall with a long RBI single in the fourth off Cashner, who allowed four runs (three earned) over seven innings while absorbing his 12th loss. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-leads-yankees-to-doubleheader-sweep/c-291882698

Romine tacked on with a solo homer in the ninth inning off Miguel Castro (Villa Hermosa). Jace Peterson (Petey) knocked an RBI single off Tommy Kahnle in the ninth to break up the shutout, creating a one-out save for Dellin Betances (El Acido). It was the Yankees' first doubleheader sweep of the season, having split each of their previous three twin bills. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-leads-yankees-to-doubleheader-sweep/c-291882698

"We're in a tough stretch right now," Boone said. "We're beat up and guys are just grinding away. To get a couple of wins today, it's huge for us. Hopefully we can finish off a great series tomorrow." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-leads-yankees-to-doubleheader-sweep/c-291882698

SOUND SMART
• With their 82nd victory, the Yankees have clinched their 26th straight winning season, extending the second-longest streak in Major League history. The record is 39, achieved by the 1926-64 Yankees. In the four major American pro sports (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL), only the NHL's Montreal Canadiens (32, 1952-83) and Boston Bruins (29, 1968-96) have exceeded the Yankees' current accomplishment. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-leads-yankees-to-doubleheader-sweep/c-291882698

• Gray has made four starts with the Yankees at Camden Yards, winning each outing while compiling a 0.38 ERA in 24 innings. He has also won both of his starts on Players' Weekend, having bested the Mariners last Aug. 26 at Yankee Stadium. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-leads-yankees-to-doubleheader-sweep/c-291882698

With the win, New York improves to  82-47 on the regular season and is 7.0 games back of their rival Boston who is leading the American League East. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/ With the loss Baltimore who is in last place in the division  drops to 37-93 on the season. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/

HE SAID IT
"It sounded like a home crowd, for sure. That was nice. That was really nice." -- Gray, on the fans' ovation "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/sonny-gray-leads-yankees-to-doubleheader-sweep/c-291882698

First pitch is set for 8:05pm. The game will be televised on ESPN. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/schedule/2018-08