The First Game Of The Series Between The Two American League East Rivals Goes To New York As Chris Sale's Struggles Continue

The rivalry had to wait a day to get underway in the Bronx because of mother nature but when it finally did get underway New York took the first game of this now three game series with DJ Lamahieu leading the way.

LeMahieu added a fifth-inning homer in the Yankees' 4-1 victory at Yankee Stadium, helping the Bombers roll to their 14th win in 17 games. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

"Playing these guys is always a big game," LeMahieu said. "The crowd was into it. It was a great night out there. The way we’ve played with some of our big guys out, it’s been fun." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

Aaron Hicks contributed two RBIs and Gary Sánchez ended a threat with an impressive throw as the Yankees handed Chris Sale his seventh defeat, swelling their advantage over the Red Sox in the American League East to 8 1/2 games. New York is 3-0 against the defending World Series champions so far in 2019. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

"It's a good number, but we're basically just past a third of the season," manager Aaron Boone said. "We've got such a long way to go. We'll just enjoy this for a minute, in that we went out and got a tough win tonight against a great pitcher." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

LeMahieu, who agreed to a two-year contract despite having no set fielding position, has transitioned into an indispensable Yankee. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

His contact-hitting, opposite-field approach was on display in the third inning, as LeMahieu stroked a game-tying RBI double off the fence in right-center field off Sale that served to fire up the crowd of 45,556 -- not to mention one normally nonplussed Yankee. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

"If you watch DJ, he's certainly quiet and businesslike -- all true," Boone said. "But he'll show some emotion on the field. I've seen a number of times where he'll come up and he's pumping his fists. He's out there to rip your heart out. He plays with an edge, and I think he does love being in this environment." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

Asked about the "rip your heart out" comment, LeMahieu smiled and said, "I don't know about that. I don't know." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

Hicks followed by punching a two-run single through the left side of the infield, providing starter J.A. Happ with a lead that he would not relinquish. Happ limited the Red Sox to a Rafael Devers homer over five innings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-red-sox-lose-to-yankees

"I feel like it's definitely coming for me," Happ said. "I feel like the results are starting to come. I think that there's a little bit more room in there, and I'm trying to tap into that. But definitely I feel good about the way I'm executing and where I'm at mentally." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-red-sox-lose-to-yankees

Happ labored at times during his 84-pitch outing, but he was bailed out by Sanchez's strong throwing arm, as the catcher spotted Eduardo Nunez dancing too far off of second base in the fifth inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-red-sox-lose-to-yankees

With Happ working to Andrew Benintendi, Sanchez signaled to Gleyber Torres for a pickoff, then fired an 88 mph rocket to the bag that nailed Nunez to end the inning. Sanchez's pop time on the play was 1.85 seconds, per Statcast, better than the league average of 2.05. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-red-sox-lose-to-yankees

"I just noticed immediately it was a big lead, more than usual," Sanchez said through an interpreter. "When you see something like that, you put the play in motion." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-red-sox-lose-to-yankees

"That's one I'll go back and watch again," Boone said. "That's one of the things that makes Gary special." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-red-sox-lose-to-yankees

Sale struck out 10, but LeMahieu's sixth homer of the season cleared the wall in right-center field, completing damage. Sale fell to 0-2 with a 6.55 ERA in two starts against the Yankees this season, marking the first time he has ever allowed four earned runs or more to New York in back-to-back starts. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-red-sox-lose-to-yankees

"He’s a really good pitcher," LeMahieu said. "We're just competing and trying to get a barrel on it. He’s a really good one. He’s tough to get." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

Adam Ottavino, Tommy Kahnle and Zack Britton fired scoreless frames to get the ball to closer Aroldis Chapman, who struck out two of the three men he faced to log his 16th save. Chapman led the Majors with 11 saves during May. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

"Our bullpen, they came in and they did what they do -- and they've been doing," Happ said. "It's impressive. It's a lot harder than they're making it look." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

Meanwhile Boston suffered a setback in the opening game while Chris Sale who I am not used to seeing struggle continues his trying season.

Sale slipped to 1-7 on the season, mainly due to the Yankees touching him up for three runs in a game-turning bottom of the third. DJ LeMahieu (RBI double) and Aaron Hicks (two-run single) had the damaging hits. Two innings later, shortly after a baserunning gaffe by Eduardo Núñez, LeMahieu hammered a solo homer to right-center.

Over six innings, Sale allowed seven hits and four runs, walking one and striking out 10. His run-support average is 3.03, by far the lowest of any member of Boston’s starting rotation. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

“It’s just frustrating where we’re at,” said Sale. “Collectively as a group, we have to find a way to start winning. I’m not going to throw anybody under the bus. I have to go out there and pitch better. If I don’t have a blowup third inning, we’ve got ourselves a ballgame. As much as you point a finger at anybody in this clubhouse, you can point it right at me, too.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

So what happened with Sale?

In the first inning, the Yankees whiffed at six of the eight sliders that Sale fired. He generated 21 swings and misses on the night. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

But in that third inning, Sale temporarily lost the feel for his slider just when he needed it most.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

“The one to LeMahieu was kind of a backdoor slider that didn’t really break a whole lot,” Sale said. “Hicks was kind of the same thing.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

It has been a strange season for Sale. He has had nights of utter dominance -- such as a 14-K game against the Orioles on May 8 and the May 14 performance against the Rockies in which he became the first pitcher in history to strike out 17 batters in a start of seven innings or fewer. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

There have also been nights like Friday, when he was two to three pitches away from being stellar. The Red Sox are 3-9 when he pitches, which seems almost unfathomable. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

“It’s not where we want to be,” said Sale. “It’s not where I want to be. It’s not who I am. It’s not who I’ve ever been. I have to find a way to be better, whether it’s going out there and throwing up more zeros [or] being able to pick up my guys when we’re scuffling a little bit.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

So what happened with Nunez?

A promising rally for the Sox got cut short in the top of the fifth when Nunez was picked off second on a bullet throw by catcher Gary Sanchez with Andrew Benintendi up as the potential go-ahead run and J.D. Martinez on deck. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

It was a crushing development, especially with New York’s vaunted bullpen looming for the final four innings. The Red Sox didn’t push another runner into scoring position for the rest of the night. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

“You know, [Sanchez] did a good job, made a good throw,” Nunez said. “I was a little too aggressive. I was trying to make sure if [Benintendi] hit the ball hard, I could score, and he made a good throw. That was a rookie mistake.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

he Red Sox didn’t make mistakes like that last year, but they’ve had strange lapses in focus this season.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

“It can’t happen,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “Seems like the last seven, eight days we regressed back to being sloppy around the bases. That can’t happen. Benny’s putting good at-bats against [J.A.] Happ. It’s a play that probably was a set pick, a set play, but that can’t happen. He knows it.””according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

Nunez apologized to Cora in the dugout. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

“I apologized because I know there’s two outs, two guys on base, and it can change the game,” Nunez said. “It was a rookie mistake and I told him, ‘My bad.’ That’s not going to happen again.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

So what’s happened to the Red Sox?

For most of May, the Red Sox looked like a team that was regaining its footing. The Sox reeled off a 12-3 stretch from April 29-May 15 but finished the month losing three in a row, and five of their last seven. Since May 17, Boston is 6-8.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

“Now we’ve got June,” said Cora. “We’ve got to turn the page and play good baseball. We didn’t finish the month the way we wanted. We played good for a while there. Over the last week, it hasn’t been consistent.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

Making it so strange is that it’s almost the same roster that set a franchise record with 108 wins last year and romped through its postseason opponents at an 11-3 clip. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

“We’re something away from where we need to be, we just have to find that something, whatever it is, where it is,” said Sale. “Change our socks. [Eat] frozen pizza. I don’t know. Like I said, we just have to find a way. It’s within reach. It’s not like we’re out in the middle of the ocean. We know what we’ve got. We have a bunch of guys who can find a way to do it.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

Nunez pointed out that it’s important the Red Sox stay together during this difficult stretch rather than splinter.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

“If we start pointing [fingers] or making excuses, we’re taking the wrong way to getting back,” Nunez said. “I think you have to accept that we’re not playing the right way and work hard and do our homework. There’s still four more months. We know how good we are. We know what kind of team we have. And I think we have to just stop being upset with ourselves or feeling sorry for ourselves. Turn the page and play better.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-aaron-hicks-lead-yanks-past-red-sox

With the win, New York who is leading the American League East improves to 35-19 on the regular season while Boston drops to 29-28 on the season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/chris-sale-red-sox-lose-to-yankees

New York and Boston will continue their series in the Bronx on Saturday night.