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BASEBALL

New York Begins West Coast Trip In Anaheim With Four Games Against Los Angeles

From the east coast to the west coast.

On Monday night New York will begin a nine game road trip beginning in Anaheim California where they will open a four game series with the Los Angeles Angels.

New York who is a member of the American League East comes into the game with a record of 11-10 while Los Angeles who is a member of the American League West comes into the game with a record of 9-13. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings

Both pitchers who are starting tonight’s game are still searching for their first wins of the season. J.A. Happ will start for New York. The left-hander comes into the game with a record of 0-2 with a 7.23 earn run average. Happ will make his fifth start of the season in Monday's series opener as he seeks his first win of 2019. Happ took a no-decision in the Yankees' win over the Red Sox last Wednesday, allowing three earned runs over 6 1/3 innings. He will oppose Los Angeles right -hander Matt Harvey who like J.A. Happ comes into the opener of this four game series with a record of 0-2 but his earn run average is higher then J.A. Happ’s at 9.64. Harvey was solid in his first start of the season, but he has a 10.05 ERA in three outings since then. The righty gave up five runs (four earned) over 4 1/3 innings against the Rangers on Wednesday. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

As for New York’s previous game, they topped Kansas City.

The Yankees handled the first day of Judge’s absence just as Boone had hoped they would, grinding out a 10-inning, 7-6 victory over the Royals after losing a five-run lead in the eighth. Austin Romine, who tied the game with an RBI single in the eighth, delivered the game-winner in the 10th, another run-scoring hit that gave the Yankees their first walk-off win of 2019. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-walk-off-against-royals

New York finished the homestand 6-3, winning five of its last six. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-walk-off-against-royals

One might have argued that Sunday’s lineup had the look and feel of a split-squad game in Dunedin, Fla., rather than a meaningful regular-season contest, as three starters (Tyler Wade, Mike Tauchman and Mike Ford) had combined for only 240 career big league at-bats. Boone brushed aside any such notions before the game, expressing the utmost confidence in his group “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-walk-off-against-royals

“I wrote out the lineup today and I feel like it’s balanced and I feel like it’s capable,” Boone said. “I look forward to those guys going out and producing. I really do feel that way. I hate not writing Judgie in there, but I feel like the lineup we’re putting out there today is capable of putting some points on the board.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-walk-off-against-royals

Seven different Yankees produced hits, including Ford, who picked up his first big league knock with a second-inning double. Romine and Brett Gardner collected three hits apiece. Clint Frazier belted a three-run homer in the fifth that opened up the five-run cushion for James Paxton, who struck out 12 over six-plus shutout innings, his second straight game with a dozen punchouts. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-walk-off-against-royals

“There’s a couple guys who are irreplaceable here, but we’ve got to find a way to do it,” said Romine, who drove in three. “We’re finding a pretty good way to do it.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-walk-off-against-royals

Paxton was forced to settle for a no-decision after Chad Green and Adam Ottavino combined to allow six runs to the first six Royals hitters in the eighth. Alex Gordon’s three-run blast tied the game, then Hunter Dozier hit a solo homer on the next pitch, both coming against Ottavino. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-walk-off-against-royals

But even the bullpen meltdown didn’t deter the Yankees, who have become quite experienced with adversity during the first 21 games of the season.

Judge became the 13th player on the Yankees’ injured list, joining regulars Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Hicks, Gary Sánchez, Miguel Andújar, Troy Tulowitzki and Greg Bird. Luis Severino and Dellin Betances have also been on the IL all season, putting extra pressure on the pitching staff. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-walk-off-against-royals

“At this point, what’s another one?” Ottavino said. “You have to play the games no matter what, so we’ll focus on doing our jobs the best we can. When guys are back, they’re back. The good news is that we’ll be getting stronger over time.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-walk-off-against-royals

Zack Britton, who pitched a scoreless 10th to earn the win on Sunday, said he has never been on a team with this many injuries, but he thought back to his experience as a member of the 2014 Orioles when asked about a club handling these types of massive obstacles. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-walk-off-against-royals

“[Manny] Machado had knee surgery, [Matt] Wieters had Tommy John, Chris Davis got suspended and we were sitting there like, ‘What are we going to do?’” Britton said. “Guys like Steve Pearce stepped up; Delmon Young, Ryan Flaherty, Caleb Joseph. That’s what you’re going to have to have. If anything, it’s going to make the team better, because some guys that people overlooked are going to step up and do a good job.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-walk-off-against-royals

That Orioles team made it all the way to the American League Championship Series, so no matter how many players fall victim to injuries, Britton and the Yankees have no choice but to forge ahead with whomever is in uniform that day. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-walk-off-against-royals

With the homestand behind them, the Yankees boarded a flight to Anaheim, where they’ll open a nine-game road trip on Monday. West Coast swings -- this one takes them through Anaheim, San Francisco and Arizona -- are never easy, but what’s been easy so far for these Yankees? “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-walk-off-against-royals

Sunday certainly wasn’t, but they walked off the field with a hard-earned win. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-walk-off-against-royals

“I think it gets you comfortable in these situations,” Boone said. “These situations that come up over the course of the year, that are going to come up in big spots, it’s not always going to be perfect. I think you need to embrace that; get comfortable being uncomfortable. For looking like we’re going to cruise, a lot of really good things happened for us to snatch that game back. You could feel that energy in the room on a win like that. That’s something that I know makes for a better trip across the country.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-walk-off-against-royals

As for Los Angeles previous game, they topped Seattle.

The Angels employed the opener strategy for the first time this season and it helped them end a six-game losing streak. Hansel Robles opened with a scoreless first before handing it over to Jaime Barria, who threw five strong innings in an 8-6 win over the Mariners on Sunday afternoon at Angel Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/angels/news/angels-use-opener-snap-losing-streak

Angels manager Brad Ausmus explained before the game that the club finds it to be a viable approach, as it allows a reliever to face the top of the order, which allows the primary pitcher to come in and face the middle or the bottom of the order, which can help with number of times a pitcher has to work through the order. “according to https://www.mlb.com/angels/news/angels-use-opener-snap-losing-streak

“It worked today,” Ausmus said. “But you can't do it on a daily basis. But I'm sure when there are opportunities to do it, we'll do it to help us win games." “according to https://www.mlb.com/angels/news/angels-use-opener-snap-losing-streak

With Seattle using three right-handed bats atop its lineup, Robles made his first career start and retired Mitch Haniger, Domingo Santana and Edwin Encarnacion in order. Barria then came in for the second inning to face Daniel Vogelbach, the Mariners’ No. 4 hitter, and proceeded to turn in his best outing of the season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/angels/news/angels-use-opener-snap-losing-streak

"Hansel did exactly what we hoped. He got the top of the order out,” Ausmus said. “It allowed Barria to start in the middle of the order as opposed to the top. He got through the order a couple times and we went from there.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/angels/news/angels-use-opener-snap-losing-streak

Robles said he tried not to change anything despite pitching in the first inning. He trotted in from the bullpen instead of the dugout to keep his routine the same. He also said that he’d love to get the chance to serve as an opener again. “according to https://www.mlb.com/angels/news/angels-use-opener-snap-losing-streak

"It was the first inning, that was the only difference,” Robles said through an interpreter. “But everything was normal." “according to https://www.mlb.com/angels/news/angels-use-opener-snap-losing-streak

Barria gave up one run on four hits, with the lone run coming on an RBI single from Santana to score Haniger in the third, which was Barria’s first time facing the top of the order. Barria was removed to start the seventh after throwing 71 pitches and with Vogelbach coming up. “according to https://www.mlb.com/angels/news/angels-use-opener-snap-losing-streak

“I didn't really change anything,” Barria said through an interpreter. “I did my normal routine, my long toss. I had to wait a little while in the bullpen to warm up there and then come into the game. That's all.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/angels/news/angels-use-opener-snap-losing-streak

Reliever Ty Buttrey found himself in some trouble by loading the bases with two outs, but he got out of the jam by getting nine-hole hitter Mallex Smith to ground out despite falling behind in the count, 3-0. Noe Ramirez served up two homers in the ninth and Cody Allen gave up another, but Luis Garcia came in for the final out and they were able to hold on for the win. It was Allen’s third straight rough outing, but Ausmus said that he’s not concerned yet. “according to https://www.mlb.com/angels/news/angels-use-opener-snap-losing-streak

“He'll be fine,” Ausmus said. “I don't worry about him." “according to https://www.mlb.com/angels/news/angels-use-opener-snap-losing-streak

Homers propel offense

All four of the Halos’ runs off veteran right-hander Mike Leake came via homers, as Kevan Smith smacked a two-run blast in the second, Tommy La Stella connected on a solo shot in the fourth and Brian Goodwin walloped a solo homer in the sixth. “according to https://www.mlb.com/angels/news/angels-use-opener-snap-losing-streak

The Angels put the game away with two runs in the seventh off reliever Shawn Armstrong, with Justin Bour dropping in an RBI single and Andrelton Simmons staying hot with an RBI ground-rule double. La Stella then added his second homer of the game off reliever R.J. Alaniz in the eighth, giving him his second multihomer game of the year and a career-high six blasts on the year. “according to https://www.mlb.com/angels/news/angels-use-opener-snap-losing-streak

"Obviously, I didn’t necessarily expect this, but you’d like to think that putting in the time in the cage and the reps is eventually going to pay off,” La Stella said. “For me, it’s kind of swinging a little easier. I don’t have to put such an aggressive swing on it. Just take the barrel to the ball." “according to https://www.mlb.com/angels/news/angels-use-opener-snap-losing-streak

Mike Trout, who went 2-for-3 with two doubles, recorded his second outfield assist of the season in the sixth, when he threw out Santana as he tried to advance to second on a single off Barria. “according to https://www.mlb.com/angels/news/angels-use-opener-snap-losing-streak

"Trout's an incredible player,” said Barria, who clapped his hand into his glove after the play. “He always gives it 100 percent, and he was able to get the out." “according to https://www.mlb.com/angels/news/angels-use-opener-snap-losing-streak

Simmons, who made an impressive tag after receiving Trout’s throw, also helped out Buttrey with a strong defensive play in the seventh. Vogelbach hit a scorcher off the bat at 105.1 mph, per Statcast, but Simmons was able to knock it down and make an off-balance throw to get Vogelbach for the first out. “according to https://www.mlb.com/angels/news/angels-use-opener-snap-losing-streak

First pitch is set for 10:07pm from Angels Stadium Of Anaheim. The game will be televised on Major League Baseball Network and Yes.