New York's West Coast Trip Continues As They Visit Seattle

After beginning their west coast trip in Oakland where they lost two out of three including the finale New York will continue their trip on the west coast as they visit Safeco Field where they will take on Seattle beginning Friday where they will look  to halt their losing skid.  

New York who is a member of the American League East comes into the opener of the three game series with a record of 87-53 and is second in the American League East while Seattle who is a member of the American League West comes into the opener with a record of 78-62 and is third in their division. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/index.jsp?c_id=nyy

Masahiro Tanaka will start the opener for New York. The Japanese right -hander comes into the game with a record of 10-3 to along with an earn run average of 3.83. "according to http://m.mlb.com/player/547888/masahiro-tanaka Tanaka has allowed two earned runs or fewer in seven of his last nine starts, posting a 2.68 ERA over that span. He is 6-0 with a 2.34 ERA in seven starts against the Mariners, including 3-0 with a 2.17 ERA in four starts at Safeco Field. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy He will oppose Seattle left-hander James Paxton who comes into the opener with a record of 11-5 to go along with a 3.74 earn run average. "according to http://m.mlb.com/player/572020/james-paxton The Mariners will send their ace to the hill for the 26th time this year in the series opener against New York. Last time out, Paxton threw five innings, struck out 10 and beat Oakland in a return from the disabled list."according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy

As for New York's previous game, they not only lost the finale to Oakland on Wednesday night but the series as well. 

One of Aaron Boone's first and easiest calls in his new position was to have Luis Severino and Gary Sanchez on the field for the season opener. In the event of a Wild Card playoff game, that remains the likeliest scenario, though the Yankees manager stopped short of calling it a lock on an evening when that battery did not appear ready for prime time. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-struggles-in-loss-to-as/c-293527880

In the latest installment of Severino's slide from Cy Young contender to rotation quandary, the right-hander stomped around the mound repeatedly, fuming over cross-ups that led to two wild pitches, two passed balls and four early runs in the Yankees' ugly 8-2 loss to the Athletics on Wednesday at the Oakland Coliseum. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-struggles-in-loss-to-as/c-293527880

"It was a mess," Severino said. "I think I need to do a better job and communicate more with Gary, and try to get better." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-struggles-in-loss-to-as/c-293527880

The Yankees' Wild Card lead over the A's dipped to 3 1/2 games, and they have good reason to hope that this marked their final trip of the year to the Bay Area: New York has lost 18 of its last 25 games in Oakland, and six of the last seven. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-struggles-in-loss-to-as/c-293527880

"I want to get rolling, no question about it," Boone said. "I think we're doing some things well, but we're not certainly rolling like we're capable of. We're starting to get some guys back, which is really important, but we've got to play better if we want to get to where we want to go." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-struggles-in-loss-to-as/c-293527880

Severino permitted plenty of loud contact in his shortest start of the season, knocked for six runs (five earned) and six hits over 2 2/3 innings. He insisted that his body feels as good as it did earlier in the year, when Severino was 13-2 with a 1.98 ERA through 18 starts. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-struggles-in-loss-to-as/c-293527880

The All-Star has faded since then. Including Wednesday's loss, Severino is 4-5 with a 6.83 ERA in 11 starts since July 7. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-struggles-in-loss-to-as/c-293527880

"I just need to do a better job. I know right now I'm not at my best," Severino said. "I need to perform like I was in the first half. I try my best and try to look at what's going on wrong. I think a couple of good outings I had there in the past I was getting better. I just need to bounce back and get like I was in the first half." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-struggles-in-loss-to-as/c-293527880

I think we're concerned, but I also think we've seen enough signs that we feel like he's starting to climb out of it a little bit," Boone said. "This was a little bit of a bump in the road and a setback for him that we've got to dive into and get on top of that first-inning stuff where I don't think he's quite as sharp. We've got to all come together and fix it because he's so important for us." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-struggles-in-loss-to-as/c-293527880

Jonathan Holder and Luis Cessa each permitted a run in relief, while A's starter Mike Fiers held the Yanks silent until Sanchez's two-run homer in the seventh inning, his 15th. Fiers scattered three hits over six-plus innings, walking three and striking out five. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-struggles-in-loss-to-as/c-293527880

"Gary hit the big home run off Fiers, but for the most part he really did a good job of limiting the damage, limiting baserunners," Brett Gardner said. "He pitched a good game." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-struggles-in-loss-to-as/c-293527880

SOUND SMART
Severino's first-inning strikeout of Piscotty was his 200th of the season. Severino became the third Yankees pitcher to record multiple seasons of 200 or more strikeouts, joining Ron Guidry (1978-79) and David Cone (1997-98). "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-struggles-in-loss-to-as/c-293527880

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Adeiny Hechavarria turned in a defensive highlight in the fifth inning, charging toward a slow roller on the right side of the infield and using his glove to flip the ball to Luke Voit at first base, taking a hit away from Olson. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-struggles-in-loss-to-as/c-293527880

HE SAID IT
"He was a little off tonight. Like any ballplayer on any given day, you're going to have an off night. He also executed some good pitches. Unfortunately, the other team was able to hit those pitches very well. Now we've got to look forward and go try to bounce back." -- Sanchez, on Severino "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luis-severino-struggles-in-loss-to-as/c-293527880

As for Seattle's previous game, Unlike New York who lost their previous game Seattle won theirs as they beat Baltimore. 

The Mariners had one of their worst defensive innings of the season Wednesday night, committing three errors in a frame for the first time in 2018 to give away a one-run lead in the fifth. "according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/nelson-cruz-denard-span-hit-home-runs-in-win/c-293537256

But Nelson Cruz and Denard Span bailed out the Mariners' shoddy defense with back-to-back homers in the bottom of the frame to send Seattle on its way to a 5-2 victory over the Orioles at Safeco Field. "according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/nelson-cruz-denard-span-hit-home-runs-in-win/c-293537256

"It was only a one-run lead that they had, but it felt like we were down by three or four because we had made some mental mistakes," Span said. "So when Nelson came up and hit the homer, it definitely sparked us a little bit and gave us a little bit more momentum." "according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/nelson-cruz-denard-span-hit-home-runs-in-win/c-293537256

Edwin Diaz pitched a perfect ninth to record his 53rd save as Seattle remained 5 1/2 games behind Oakland in the race for the second American League Wild Card berth. The A's maintained their lead with an 8-2 win over the Yankees. "according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/nelson-cruz-denard-span-hit-home-runs-in-win/c-293537256

Cruz squared up a 1-2 fastball that Orioles starter Andrew Cashner left up in the zone, sending the ball out of the ballpark at 105.7 mph, per Statcast™, to tie the game at 2. Cruz ranks third in the Majors with an average exit velocity of 94.1 mph -- Aaron Judge is the leader and Giancarlo Stanton is second. "according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/nelson-cruz-denard-span-hit-home-runs-in-win/c-293537256

Span followed by sending a 2-0 changeup over the left-field fence for a 3-2 lead. It was the Mariners' third home run of the night as Mitch Haniger also hit a solo homer in the third, extending his hitting streak to 17 games, the longest active streak in the Majors. "according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/nelson-cruz-denard-span-hit-home-runs-in-win/c-293537256

"We haven't had a lot of those games: three home runs," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "I like homers. It's good to see guys driving the ball." "according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/nelson-cruz-denard-span-hit-home-runs-in-win/c-293537256

The Orioles scored both of their runs on errors by Mariners infielders as part of Seattle's troublesome fifth. Cedric Mullins came home when first baseman Robinson Cano couldn't secure a slightly wide throw from shortstop Jean Segura on a chopper by Jonathan Villar. Villar scored when an Adam Jones one-hopper went off Segura's glove and into left field, giving Baltimore a 2-1 lead. "according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/nelson-cruz-denard-span-hit-home-runs-in-win/c-293537256

Dee Gordon also made a throwing error on a grounder from Chris Davis to extend the inning, though that miscue did not result in a run for the Orioles. "according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/nelson-cruz-denard-span-hit-home-runs-in-win/c-293537256

"We need to play better defense behind Mike Leake," Servais said. "He deserved better in that inning." "according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/nelson-cruz-denard-span-hit-home-runs-in-win/c-293537256

Leake allowed no earned runs, working around seven hits, walking none and striking out four. The right-hander earned his first win since June 23. "according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/nelson-cruz-denard-span-hit-home-runs-in-win/c-293537256

After losing a one-run lead in the seventh inning on Tuesday, Servais spoke at length about giving different relievers a chance to pitch the seventh prior to Wednesday's game. He went with recent callup Shawn Armstrong with his team clinging to a 3-2 lead, and the righty faced four batters in a scoreless frame. "according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/nelson-cruz-denard-span-hit-home-runs-in-win/c-293537256

"I think that's the best outing he's had since he's been with us," Servais said. "He's got a good cutter, the curve ball, but that last fastball he threw to strike [Renato Nunez] out was explosive. It just took off. If he's got that kind of stuff -- it's exciting to see -- he'll continue to get plenty of shots in that role." "according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/nelson-cruz-denard-span-hit-home-runs-in-win/c-293537256

Seattle added two insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh, easing the burden on setup man Alex Colome and Diaz. The pair of relievers combined to retire the last six Orioles batters. "according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/nelson-cruz-denard-span-hit-home-runs-in-win/c-293537256

"You're sitting there, watching the game saying, 'Here we go again, it's gonna be another one-run type deal with the back end of our bullpen,'" Servais said. "But it was nice to add on a couple runs." "according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/nelson-cruz-denard-span-hit-home-runs-in-win/c-293537256

MOMENT THAT MATTERED
Small ball pads lead: The Mariners pushed their lead to 5-2 on a squeeze play in the seventh. Guillermo Heredia, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in the top of the inning, laid down a bunt to score Span. "according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/nelson-cruz-denard-span-hit-home-runs-in-win/c-293537256

"Heredia's got those things in his game, and he needs to," Servais said. "That's the type of player he needs to be. He hadn't been up there much at all recently, but he's in tune. He got the sign, we executed the play. It's nice to pick up a run there. We just haven't scored a lot lately, so every additional run late in the ballgame is nice." "according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/nelson-cruz-denard-span-hit-home-runs-in-win/c-293537256

SOUND SMART
Diaz's 53rd save moved him into a four-way tie for fifth most in a season in MLB history, along with Mariano Rivera (2004), Trevor Hoffman (1998) and Randy Myers (1993). "according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/nelson-cruz-denard-span-hit-home-runs-in-win/c-293537256

Next on the list: John Smoltz and Eric Gagne, who earned 55 saves in 2002 and '03, respectively. Francisco Rodriguez set the record in 2008 with 62 saves. "according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/nelson-cruz-denard-span-hit-home-runs-in-win/c-293537256

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Cruz showed great hustle twice in the seventh -- once to leg out a double and again to score from second on a bloop single by Span. "according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/nelson-cruz-denard-span-hit-home-runs-in-win/c-293537256

"He made a good read, had a good jump," Span said. "Cruz will surprise you at times. He'll cut a switch on every now and then and beat out an infield hit and do things like that. People forget that he used to be a really good right fielder." "according to https://www.mlb.com/mariners/news/nelson-cruz-denard-span-hit-home-runs-in-win/c-293537256

First pitch is set for 10:10pm. The game will be televised on Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/schedule/2018-09