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BASEBALL

J.A Happ, Domingo German Tabbed For Doubleheader As New York Faces Baltimore

Mother nature took over Monday and Tuesday so instead of a three game series it will be a two game series between the American League East rivals on Wednesday with the second game that was rained out on Tuesday being made up on August 12th.

New York comes into the doubleheader with a record of 24-16 and is second place in the division while Baltimore comes into the game with a record of 14-26 and is last in the division. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings

J. A. Happ will start the afternoon game. The veteran left-hander comes into the game with a record of 2-3 with a 4.36 earn run average. Happ limited the Mariners to one hit over five scoreless innings in his last outing, striking out seven to pick up the win. His first two starts of the season were against Baltimore, going 0-1 with a 6.48 ERA in those games. He will oppose Baltimore right -hander David Hess who has a record of 1-4 with a 5.50 earn run average Hess waited out a delay of two-plus hours before learning Monday's series opener would not be played. He received no-decisions in his past two starts, back in the rotation in place of the injured Alex Cobb. In the night cap Domingo German will start for New York. The right -hander comes into the game with a record of 7-1 with a 2.70 earn run average. German claimed his MLB-best seventh win Friday after holding the Rays to three runs over five frames. He's won four straight starts, a career-best win streak. Against the O's, German is 1-0 with a 3.97 ERA in three career appearances (one start). He will oppose Andrew Cashner. The right -hander comes into the game with a record of 4-1 with a 4.25 earn run average. Cashner tossed six innings of one-run ball against the Red Sox his last time out. He took the loss at Yankee Stadium on Opening Day, allowing six runs over four innings. He is 2-4 with a 4.01 ERA in eight career starts vs. the Yankees. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

The Yankees entered the three-game series Friday against the American League East-leading Rays in second place by 1 1/2 games and confident something could be done about that. When the dust settled Sunday after a 7-1 victory, New York had taken two of three to win its third consecutive series and moved to within a half-game of Tampa Bay. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-sharp-against-rays

With that in mind, here are four signs from Sunday that suggest the Yankees' early success is more about talent than luck: “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-sharp-against-rays

They don't need the headlines

The big to-do surrounding the series finale was how the Yankees would handle AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, or the other way around. The other guy on the mound -- Masahiro Tanaka -- was paid little attention ... until his outing simply made too much noise to ignore. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-sharp-against-rays

While Snell certainly had the flair, Tanaka had the staying power. The latter outlasted his Rays counterpart with an array of smart, economical pitches.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-sharp-against-rays

"I think looking back a couple of games, I think today was one of the best [starts] I threw," Tanaka said through an interpreter. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-sharp-against-rays

With all eyes on Snell, Tanaka hummed steadily along, allowing a single in the first and second innings before retiring 12 consecutive hitters. New York's righty needed just 73 pitches to get through his seven innings against the division leaders and made it look easy: Tampa Bay's lone run came on a home run from Austin Meadows in the sixth inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-sharp-against-rays

"[Tanaka] was good, man. He was hitting his spots and living on the corners," Meadows said. "That slider in the corner, the fastball, everything was working for him today, and he was definitely really good." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-sharp-against-rays

In the bottom of the fifth frame Tanaka dialed it in, using just seven pitches. He retired the side on four pitches in the seventh. He struck out seven, allowed five hits and didn't walk a batter. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-sharp-against-rays

They slayed a dragon

Sure, Snell racked up a host of early strikeouts -- 10 in four innings and 12 in his 5 2/3 on the day -- as the Yankees worked to devise a battle plan. But New York forced Snell to throw 30 pitches in the fourth inning and then cracked his armor in the fifth, running his pitch count into the 80s while using consecutive two-out doubles followed by a single to plate a pair of runs.

They supplied their own power

A partial power outage at Tropicana Field interrupted the top of the ninth inning Sunday. The stadium lights and scoreboards winked out; the FOX Sports Sun TV broadcast of the game was also interrupted. Fans used flashlights on their phones during the delay in an attempt to brighten the stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-sharp-against-rays

When power was restored 43 minutes later, the Yankees brought with it a surge of their own by way of a four-run ninth. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-sharp-against-rays

Thairo Estrada sent the second post-outage pitch of the game into the stands for his second homer of the year, Gio Urshela continued his tear with a two-run double and Brett Gardner's sacrifice fly made it 7-1 Yankees and sucked the wind from Tampa Bay's sails. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-sharp-against-rays

Zack Britton relieved Tanaka in the eighth with big shoes to fill and no fear about being able to do so. When consecutive one-out singles and a wild pitch placed the potential tying run in scoring position, though, how Britton responded was crucial. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-sharp-against-rays

Not to worry: The left-hander handcuffed Ji-Man Choi and fanned Yandy Diaz -- the Rays' No. 3 and No. 4 hitters, respectively -- to escape the threat and set the stage for the final-inning fireworks.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-sharp-against-rays

"I've closed a lot of games out in situations like that," Britton said. "It's all about mindset, and I knew I'd get out of it if I just continued to make good pitches." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-sharp-against-rays

Chad Green -- who was recalled from Triple-A just prior to Sunday's finale -- stepped in to strike out the side in order in the ninth. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-sharp-against-rays

"That was awesome. That's Chad Green right there," Boone said. "For him to get back out there and throw the ball that way, that was exciting." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-sharp-against-rays

Like New York, Baltimore also won their previous game as they defeated the Los Angeles Angels but unlike New York they lost the series.

Donning pink gear under gray skies, the Orioles waited through a two-hour 42-minute delay on Mother’s Day to finish off a soggy weekend at Camden Yards. By the time they did with a 5-1 win over the Angels, they’d snapped a four-game losing streak and reached a significant milestone: Four different Orioles went deep, including Chris Davis, John Means earned his fifth win, and the season’s quarter pole came and went. “according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/here-s-where-orioles-stand-at-the-quarter-pole

First pitch for the first game of the doubleheader is set for 3.05pm from Yankee Stadium. First pitch for the second game however is time to be decided.

The games will be televised on MASN and Yes.