J.A. Happ , Adam Ottavino Have Rough Nights On The Mound As New York Falls To Chicago In The Opener
On the diamond teams win with two things offense and pitching.
In the opening game between New York and the Chicago Whitesox of their four game series it didn’t go New York’s way.
J.A. Happ came into his outing Thursday night on a tear, having won three straight starts and five consecutive decisions. Much of that success has been due to his ability to avoid the big inning.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-can-t-hold-lead-vs-white-sox
The southpaw’s run of success came to a halt in the Yankees' 5-4 loss to the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-can-t-hold-lead-vs-white-sox
“I kind of battled command for most of the night,” Happ said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-can-t-hold-lead-vs-white-sox
Happ’s outing started well as he allowed just one hit -- a screaming comebacker from Jose Abreu in the first inning that barely missed hitting Happ before ending up in center field for a single -- through his first three innings, and he looked to be in control. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-can-t-hold-lead-vs-white-sox
After being gifted an early 4-0 lead, things began to slip away from Happ in the fourth inning, as the left-hander walked consecutive batters to load the bases before getting out of the inning with a weak popout to second.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-can-t-hold-lead-vs-white-sox
But the White Sox made Happ pay for his spotty control in the fifth inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-can-t-hold-lead-vs-white-sox
Happ issued a walk to Yolmer Sanchez to start the inning and proceeded to allow a single to Ryan Cordell and an RBI double to Leury Garcia. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-can-t-hold-lead-vs-white-sox
The next batter, Tim Anderson, took advantage of Happ’s lack of control, taking a misplaced 1-1 fastball and sending it 419 feet to left-center field for a game-tying three-run shot. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-can-t-hold-lead-vs-white-sox
“I think the leadoff walk was the big thing," Happ said. "Cordell hit a pretty good changeup, went out and got it. I found a way to make a pitch and get out of that fourth [inning]. Missed spots a couple times there in the fifth and got hurt on it.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-can-t-hold-lead-vs-white-sox
“Looked like he missed down and in on the homer,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Obviously, it’s a little frustrating because of how he started that game and how he was going to get us deep in the game, but to their credit, they strung together a couple of at-bats against him.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-can-t-hold-lead-vs-white-sox
Happ surrendered a season-high four walks in the no-decision. He finished five innings, allowing four runs on five hits and striking out two. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-can-t-hold-lead-vs-white-sox
“I feel like I don’t walk a lot of guys, but I feel like when I’m walking them, they’re coming around to score,” Happ said. “I gotta find a way to bear down and get out of those innings.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-can-t-hold-lead-vs-white-sox
J.A. Happ wasn’t the only pitcher for New York that had a rough outing as Adam Ottavino who is a reliver was in the same boat as J.A. Happ but the difference though was Adam Ottavino took the loss.
Ottavino got ahead 0-2, Garcia worked the count full, forcing Ottavino to throw eight more pitches before hanging a slider on the 11th pitch of the at-bat and surrendering the go-ahead solo home run to make it a 5-4 game. “according tohttps://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-can-t-hold-lead-vs-white-sox
“You get ahead like that [0-2], you gotta be able to put him away,” Boone said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-can-t-hold-lead-vs-white-sox
Following the home run, Ottavino gave up more loud contact, a ringing double to Abreu, which left the bat at 112.6 mph. That tied for the second-hardest batted ball Ottavino has allowed since Statcast began tracking in 2015, and tied for the hardest base hit he's allowed in that span. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-can-t-hold-lead-vs-white-sox
It’s frustrating,” Ottavino said. “You try not to think about it in the moment and just keep making pitches. I wish I would have made a couple a little bit better than I did. He hadn’t looked too great on my previous slider, it hung in on him. So I didn’t have too much fear throwing it. He did a good job.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-can-t-hold-lead-vs-white-sox
“You get ahead like that [0-2], you gotta be able to put him away,” Boone said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-can-t-hold-lead-vs-white-sox
Following the home run, Ottavino gave up more loud contact, a ringing double to Abreu, which left the bat at 112.6 mph. That tied for the second-hardest batted ball Ottavino has allowed since Statcast began tracking in 2015, and tied for the hardest base hit he's allowed in that span. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/j-a-happ-yankees-can-t-hold-lead-vs-white-sox
Meanwhile Chicago won yet another game.
The amount of pitches in the at-bat between Leury García and Yankees reliever Adam Ottavino leading off the seventh inning, resulting in Garcia’s tie-breaking and game-winning homer.”according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/leury-garcia-homers-on-11th-pitch-to-lift-white-sox
Garcia fell behind, 0-2, fouled off five pitches and eventually worked the count full. He connected on an 83.1 mph slider per Statcast. “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/leury-garcia-homers-on-11th-pitch-to-lift-white-sox
“I just tried to swing at good pitches,” said Garcia through interpreter Billy Russo. “I wasn't looking for a homer, I just wanted to try to get on base. I made good contact, I found a good pitch to hit, and the ball left the yard. That was good. But I always try to have good at-bats, professional at-bats.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/leury-garcia-homers-on-11th-pitch-to-lift-white-sox
Even with the loss that drops them to 41-26 New York is still leading their division. Meanwhile the Chicago White Sox who are a member of the American League Central improve to 33-34 on the season.
New York and Chicago will return to the diamond on Friday night where New York will once again look to bounce back while Chicago meanwhile will look to win another game in the series.