J.A. Happ Is Still Searching For His First Win Of The Season As New York Faces San Francisco

Last season J.A. Happ came over from Toronto who like New York is a member of the American League East. When he came over he started out with a record of 7-0 before taking his first loss in pinstripes to New York’s division rival Boston in the American League Division Series. This season however, J.A. Happ is not off to such a great start as the veteran left-hander comes into game two of the three series against San Francisco with a record of 0-2.

New York meanwhile who is a member of the American League East comes into the game with a record of 15-11 while San Francisco who is a member of the National League West comes into the game with a record of 11-15. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings

In game two of their three game series New York will look to win the series while San Francisco will look to even the series up.

As stated above J.A. Happ will start for New York. The left-hander comes into the game with a record of 0-2 to go along with a 5.96 earn run average. Happ showed some encouraging signs in his last outing, limiting the Angels to a two-run homer and two other hits over seven innings in Anaheim. Happ has steered away from his four-seam fastball, which has been hit hard in the early going. He will oppose San Francisco left-hander Derek Holland who comes into the game with a record of 1-3 with a 4.33 earn run average. Holland takes on the Yankees looking for his second win of the season in his sixth start. The 32-year-old is 1-7 with a 6.38 ERA in 11 career games -- with 10 starts -- against the Yankees. He is coming off a five-inning, complete-game loss, due to inclement weather in Pittsburgh. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

As for the opener between New York and San Francisco, New York won the opener.

Luke Voit found a section of inviting carpet near the center of the visiting clubhouse of Oracle Park on Friday, allowing the Yankees' ninth win in their last 11 games to wash over him. The slugging first baseman offered this succinct summary of the team's recent run: "Crazy." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-luke-voit-get-3-hits-each-vs-giants

Voit said it seems like the Yankees have been welcoming new players into their clubhouse on a daily basis, but it has not seemed to change the end result. Adhering to their "next man up" mantra, the Yankees are getting it done on this West Coast trip, most recently producing a 7-3 victory over the Giants. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-luke-voit-get-3-hits-each-vs-giants

"It's fun because no one thinks we should be winning these games," said Voit, who blasted his team-leading eighth homer as part of a three-hit performance. "Before the game, after the game, it's just like, everyone is cheering for each other and happy. Our confidence is through the roof, too. All these guys are coming in and doing their job." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-luke-voit-get-3-hits-each-vs-giants

Fielding a lineup that bore little resemblance to any that manager Aaron Boone could have reasonably expected to send out in the 26th game of the season, the "B-Bombers" peppered Giants ace Madison Bumgarner for 11 hits, with each of the top four batters in the lineup notching multiple knocks. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-luke-voit-get-3-hits-each-vs-giants

Consider this fact: Of the three players that Boone sent to the outfield on Friday, Mike Tauchman (acquired in a March 23 trade) has logged the most service time in a Yankees uniform -- ahead of neophyte Thairo Estrada and veteran Cameron Maybin, who was purchased from the Indians' Triple-A squad on Wednesday. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-luke-voit-get-3-hits-each-vs-giants

Even when Billy Martin famously picked the Yankees' batting order out of a hat in April 1977, he still had the likes of Thurman Munson, Reggie Jackson and Graig Nettles to deploy. Yet Boone's understudies continue to produce, including run-scoring knocks from Gleyber Torres, unlikely cleanup hitter Gio Urshela, Maybin and Estrada. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-luke-voit-get-3-hits-each-vs-giants

"No question, it was obviously a different looking lineup for us tonight," Boone said. "Guys up and down the order are just stepping up. Everyone chipped in. That’s how it’s had to be lately. I'm just proud of the guys for having a role in helping us win ballgames." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-luke-voit-get-3-hits-each-vs-giants

DJ LeMahieu also enjoyed a three-hit performance, doubling twice, as the 11 hits permitted tied Bumgarner’s career high. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-luke-voit-get-3-hits-each-vs-giants

"DJ gets on base every freaking at-bat, it seems like," Voit said. "It's nice to hit with guys on base all the time." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-luke-voit-get-3-hits-each-vs-giants

That consistent attack benefited James Paxton, who struck out eight and scattered five hits over 5 2/3 solid innings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-luke-voit-get-3-hits-each-vs-giants

Buster Posey’s first-inning sacrifice fly snapped Paxton’s 14-inning scoreless streak, but the lefty settled in to keep San Francisco off the board until the sixth, when Posey stroked a run-scoring double and Yangervis Solarte picked up an RBI single. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-luke-voit-get-3-hits-each-vs-giants

“[Austin] Romine did a great job behind the plate, kind of mixing it up," Paxton said. "I was using my curveball a little bit more because I didn’t have a great cutter tonight. I was moving the fastball around." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-luke-voit-get-3-hits-each-vs-giants

Once Paxton turned the game over to the bullpen, Tommy Kahnle got the final out of the sixth and Zack Britton recorded two outs in the seventh before losing the strike zone, walking the bases loaded. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-luke-voit-get-3-hits-each-vs-giants

With the potential go-ahead run on base, Adam Ottavino was summoned for a showdown with Posey, who flailed at a 1-1 slider before looking at a called third strike. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-luke-voit-get-3-hits-each-vs-giants

"I've faced him a lot of times, so the mindset was to get ahead in the count and try to think through the at-bat with him and get him out," Ottavino said. "He’s such a good player that he’s not a guy you’re excited about facing -- a future Hall of Famer probably. But ultimately with him it’s a chess match and I fare pretty well when it’s that type of situation." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-luke-voit-get-3-hits-each-vs-giants

Ottavino hurled a scoreless eighth and Aroldis Chapman worked the ninth, granted a couple of extra runs when Voit belted a Mark Melancon fastball over the center-field fence in the top half of the inning. The 414-foot shot (per Statcast) prompted chatter on the Yanks' bench, Boone said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-luke-voit-get-3-hits-each-vs-giants

"As a right-handed hitter, to hit a line drive at night here where he hit that ball, you've got to sting it pretty good," Boone said. "It's not surprising; we know what kind of hitter Luke is. We know what kind of power he has the other way. He’s one of those guys that it doesn’t surprise you when it goes out." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-luke-voit-get-3-hits-each-vs-giants

Having earlier extended his on-base streak to 37 games and a hitting streak to 13 games, Voit is embracing his newfound role as the heart of a lineup that was imagined to revolve around the likes of Aaron Hicks, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. Like the rest of the team, Voit is finding a way. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-luke-voit-get-3-hits-each-vs-giants

"Some people are doubting me, [saying] last year was a fluke, but I've always hit," Voit said. "I just have confidence in myself. You're always going to have haters. People are always going to doubt you. I've just got to be myself, go out there, have fun and put a smile on everybody's face." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-luke-voit-get-3-hits-each-vs-giants

With the win New York who is a member of the American League East improves to 15-11 while San Francisco who is a member of the National League West drops to 15-11 on the season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings

First pitch is set for 4:05pm from Oracle Park. The game will be televised on Yes and NBCSBA