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BASEBALL

J.A. Happ To Start The Finale As New York Goes For The Sweep Of Their American League East Rival Boston In The Bronx

On Wednesday night New York will look to sweep their American League East rival while J.A. Happ will look to get off the snide and earn his first win of the season while Boston meanwhile will look to earn a split in their two game set in the Big Apple.

New York comes into the game with a record of 7-9 and is in second place in the division while Boston meanwhile comes into the game with a record of 6-12 and is last in the division.

As stated above J.A. Happ will start for New York. The left-hander is off to a rough start this season as he comes into the game with a record of 0-2 to go along with an 8.76 earn run average. Happ will attempt to correct his issues with fastball command against the Red Sox. Happ had a 1.99 ERA in four regular-season starts vs. Boston last year, but lost his Game 2 start to them in the American League Division Series. He will oppose Boston right -hander Nathen Eovaldi who spent two seasons in the Big Apple with New York that included the 2015 and 2016 season . “according to https://www.mlb.com/player/nathan-eovaldi-543135 Nathan Eovaldi comes into the game with a record of 0-0 with an 8.40 earn run average. The hard-throwing righty has struggled in his first three starts, but the Yankees could be just the right opponent for him. After joining the Red Sox last July, Eovaldi went 2-1 with a 1.78 ERA against New York, including the postseason. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

As for New York and Boston’s previous game, James Paxton was stellar and the New York offense was on a roll as New York shutout their American League East rival in game one of their two game set.

Paxton told his batterymate that he wanted to keep pounding the strike zone and challenging hitters, and Romine nodded. With an extra gear on his heater to complement a sharp slider and curve, Paxton dominated the foundering Red Sox, striking out 12 in a two-hit performance as the Yankees cruised to an 8-0 laugher at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-pitches-gem-against-red-sox

"It's a big deal because it's against Boston, especially being here," Paxton said. "We want to beat Boston every time. It's a big rivalry. It was a big start for me, just to get my feet under me and show myself that I can be here and do this." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-pitches-gem-against-red-sox

As he prepared for an introduction to baseball's most storied rivalry, Paxton vowed to shake off a trio of middling efforts in his new uniform. He had discovered a helpful hint while reviewing video of previous efforts against Boston, a team against which he now owns a 3-0 career record and 1.89 ERA in five starts. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-pitches-gem-against-red-sox

In those frame-by-frame breakdowns, Paxton had noticed a subtle difference, deciding that the vintage delivery was one he'd do well to repeat. As he walked to the dugout after a perfect first inning, on his way to retiring the first nine Red Sox, Paxton said that he thought to himself: "I've got some good stuff tonight."“according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-pitches-gem-against-red-sox

"That’s the type of pitcher we know he is capable of being; a dominant lefty who can command all his pitches," Aaron Judge said. "I was looking up there, might have been the second inning, he was hitting 99 mph. I've seen it from him before. It was good to see him, especially tonight, in a big game like this. He came out to play today. It was awesome." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-pitches-gem-against-red-sox

While the Yankees waited by the bat rack, they likely did not share a similarly glowing scouting report on Chris Sale, who helped end their season last October but has struggled mightily to open the new year. The Yanks thumped the lefty for four runs in five innings, breaking through in the third inning on RBI singles by DJ LeMahieu and Luke Voit. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-pitches-gem-against-red-sox

Clint Frazier homered and rookie Mike Tauchman knocked a run-scoring double off Sale in the fourth. Paxton already had more support than he would need, but Tauchman celebrated his first career homer in the sixth inning, a three-run shot off Erasmo Ramirez. Gleyber Torres added a solo shot in the seventh to complete the scoring. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-pitches-gem-against-red-sox

"There is a level of feeling we’ve been close, but we just haven’t played that complete game," manager Aaron Boone said. "We've faltered in the starting pitching, or in relief or in the middle innings and haven’t been able to add on runs. Today was that complete game and Pax set that tone." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-pitches-gem-against-red-sox

Indeed, Paxton kept the line moving, a steady stream of Boston batters returning to the dugout with their bat in hand. He became the first pitcher in Yankees history to strike out 12 or more while allowing two or fewer hits to the Red Sox at any iteration of Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-pitches-gem-against-red-sox

"I felt like I was searching before this," Paxton said. "I feel like I really found something tonight. Romine did a fantastic job behind the plate calling the pitches. We worked really well together and the boys made nice plays behind me, too." “according to https://www.mlb.co.m/yankees/news/james-paxton-pitches-gem-against-red-sox

Red Sox manager Alex Cora would lament a missed opportunity in the fourth inning, when Betts walked and Xander Bogaerts doubled over a leaping Judge in right field, a ball that struck the top of the wall and came back into play. Paxton responded by inducing a pair of flyouts, then struck out Mitch Moreland to escape. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-pitches-gem-against-red-sox

"He was doing a lot of things right," Romine said of Paxton. "He was just attacking them. There were a lot of uncomfortable at-bats and I didn't see too many good ones being put up. It's good for us." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-pitches-gem-against-red-sox

With the outcome seemingly assured, Paxton completed his 110-pitch gem by getting Betts to lift a fly ball to right field. With Joe Harvey preparing for the final three outs, Paxton left to a standing ovation from the announced crowd of 45,008, doffing his cap and pointing to the field-level seats behind the Yankees' dugout. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-pitches-gem-against-red-sox

"It was special," Paxton said. "I think it's a little different than anywhere else, being in Yankee Stadium and getting that ovation. The fans were great all night. You could hear them and they added a lot of energy. It was awesome." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/james-paxton-pitches-gem-against-red-sox

First pitch is set for 6:35pm from Yankee Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN, NESN and Yes.