CC Sabathia Returns As New York Aims To Sweep Boston

On Sunday New York’s rotation once again will get healthier as CC Sabathia will return from his stint on the injured list with knee inflammation but mother nature might be the deciding factor if New York and Boston get the finale in or not. In the finale New York will go for the sweep of their division rivals while Boston meanwhile will look to salvage a game out of the series.

New York who is leading the American League East comes into the finale with a record of 38-19 and is leading the division while Boston meanwhile comes into the finale with a record of 29-29 and is in third place in the division. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings

As stated above,

CC Sabathia will start the finale. The veteran left-hander is playing his last season in the major leagues and is also coming off a stint on the injured list with knee inflammation to make the start against Boston. CC Sabathia comes into the game with a record of 3-1 with a 3.48 earn run average. Sabathia will take his first crack at win No. 250 as he returns from the injured list. Despite an ailing right knee, he battled through five innings to notch the win on May 22 at Baltimore, allowing five runs (four earned) and six hits. He will oppose Boston left-hander David Price who comes into the finale with a record of 2-2 with a 2.83 earn run average. Price will try to put an end to the well-chronicled struggles he's had at Yankee Stadium (0-6, 9.79 ERA) since joining the Red Sox. Price was strong in his last start, firing six shutout innings against the Indians. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

As for New York and Boston’s previous game, New York topped Boston while Boston suffered yet another setback.

With a one-handed swing, Sanchez blasted his 18th homer on Saturday, a tie-breaking two-run shot off Rick Porcello that lifted the Yankees to a 5-3 victory over the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. The 18 homers match Sanchez's total from last season, when he batted .186 in 89 games, then had surgery to clean up a shoulder that had bothered him for more than a year. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gary-sanchez-hits-tie-breaking-home-run

"They went in there and they fixed the problem with the shoulder," Sanchez said through a translator. "Looking back at last year, I dealt with that and it was tough. I still thought that I was able to play with discomfort in the shoulder, but that's not an excuse. You can never use that as an excuse. It feels good right now." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gary-sanchez-hits-tie-breaking-home-run

With the victory, the Yankees increased their lead to 9 1/2 games over the Red Sox in the American League East. It represented the ninth consecutive series victory for the Bombers, who had not accomplished that feat since 1998. New York is 21-5 since its last series loss, the best record in the Majors over that span. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gary-sanchez-hits-tie-breaking-home-run

"It's huge, man," said Luke Voit, who contributed three hits and a run scored. "These series mean everything. It doesn't matter if it's June, July, August, early on. We're ready to play these guys and it's a fun atmosphere. The crowd brought it again tonight. It was a lot of fun." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gary-sanchez-hits-tie-breaking-home-run

And it has been fun watching Sanchez reclaim his 2016-17 vintage prowess. Voit said that he realized early in Spring Training that Sanchez looked different than the guy with whom he played down the stretch last year, saying that Sanchez seemed to be controlling the strike zone better. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gary-sanchez-hits-tie-breaking-home-run

"I feel like last year was kind of a weird year for him," Voit said. "I feel like he's finally healthy now, and for him to hit that out was a huge momentum swing for us. He's raking right now and it's really impressive. That's why I get hyped about it. He's being Gary Sanchez."“according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gary-sanchez-hits-tie-breaking-home-run

The fifth-inning blast off Porcello, however, was admittedly darting out of the strike zone as Sanchez started his swing. Fooled by the pitch, Sanchez still caught enough to muscle the ball into the right-field bullpen, and Brett Gardner was among those who marveled at Sanchez's strength. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gary-sanchez-hits-tie-breaking-home-run

"I think Gary is one of the most talented hitters in the league," Gardner said. "He continues to find ways to impress us." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gary-sanchez-hits-tie-breaking-home-run

Gio Urshela and DJ LeMahieu delivered again with runners in scoring position, collecting RBIs in a three-run second inning as the Yankees peppered Porcello for five singles in the frame. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gary-sanchez-hits-tie-breaking-home-run

"We're scoring runs in different ways; hitting the ball out of the ballpark at times, but tonight, I thought we did a really good job of executing at-bats against a pretty tough pitcher like Porcello," Gardner said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gary-sanchez-hits-tie-breaking-home-run

One of the singles could have been an extra-base hit for a non-hustling Gleyber Torres, who received an admonishment when he returned to the dugout, according to manager Aaron Boone.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gary-sanchez-hits-tie-breaking-home-run

"We've got it handled," Boone said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gary-sanchez-hits-tie-breaking-home-run

Porcello lasted 4 2/3 innings. New York starter Domingo Germán struck out eight, but his night ended early as well, done in by a high pitch count (87) as much as Xander Bogaerts' solo homer and a pair of Sandy Leon RBI singles. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gary-sanchez-hits-tie-breaking-home-run

It was the second consecutive subpar start for German, who completed only 3 2/3 innings and missed his second chance to become the Majors' first 10-game winner. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gary-sanchez-hits-tie-breaking-home-run

"They're tough hitters, selective hitters who don't really chase much," German said through a translator. "They made me work tonight. On the other hand, Chad Green came in and did a great job tonight, and the rest of the guys in the bullpen as well." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gary-sanchez-hits-tie-breaking-home-run

Green recorded four outs, including strikeouts of Brock Holt and Michael Chavis to escape a fifth-inning jam. The Yankees' crew silenced Boston from there, with four arms delivering the ball to Aroldis Chapman in the ninth inning.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gary-sanchez-hits-tie-breaking-home-run

Meanwhile New York’s American League East rival had yet another setback.

A 5-3 defeat put the Sox back at .500 (29-29) for the first time since May 9, and dropped them to a season-high deficit of 9 1/2 games in the American League East. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/rick-porcello-struggles-vs-yankees

It isn't as if the defending World Series champions are in panic mode. But there is definitely a sense that things need to start changing swiftly. By losing six of their last eight, and four in a row, the Sox have washed away the momentum they built by reeling off a 12-3 stretch from April 29-May 15.”according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/rick-porcello-struggles-vs-yankees

"Yeah, we're not closing the gap," said losing pitcher Rick Porcello. "We're making it bigger -- it's tough. We were in a tough spot coming in, we're in an even worse spot now and we've got to be ready to fight every night. That's the bottom line. Everybody. All cylinders, 25 guys got to be ready to win ballgames each and every night and we don't have a whole lot of room to wait around at this point. We've got to go." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/rick-porcello-struggles-vs-yankees

The Yankees, despite their many injuries to key players, are in first place. They are also 4-0 against their rivals this season after winning the first two games of this three-game series. In those four defeats to New York, the Sox are hitting .208, including 2-for-22 with runners in scoring position. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/rick-porcello-struggles-vs-yankees

"They've played well," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. "We haven't hit. I think we're like 2-for-24 with men in scoring position against them. That should change. We've got talent and we've got a good offensive club. Just keep making adjustments and hopefully it starts [Sunday]." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/rick-porcello-struggles-vs-yankees

The hope was that it would start on Saturday. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/rick-porcello-struggles-vs-yankees

But Porcello picked a bad night to have his worst outing in weeks. The righty was touched up for nine hits and five runs over 4 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out five. In Porcello's previous eight starts, he was 4-1 with a 2.94 ERA, with his team going 7-1 in those games.”according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/rick-porcello-struggles-vs-yankees

The Yankees snagged the early momentum with three runs against Porcello in the second to take a 3-1 lead. The Sox battled back in the fourth as Xander Bogaerts ripped a solo shot and Sandy Leon had his second RBI single of the night to tie it up. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/rick-porcello-struggles-vs-yankees

But Gary Sánchez, who never seems to tire of tormenting Boston, unloaded for a two-out, two-run homer on a 2-2 slider by Porcello in the fifth.”according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/rick-porcello-struggles-vs-yankees

"I think the biggest at-bat, obviously, was the Sanchez at-bat," said Porcello. "Our offense did a hell of a job grinding back. [Domingo] German has been throwing the ball great this year and I just can't let it happen. It was the worst possible result in that at-bat and looking for anything other than giving up a long ball there." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/rick-porcello-struggles-vs-yankees

Still, the Red Sox had chances to come back. In fact, they had two chances with their best pure hitter at the plate. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/rick-porcello-struggles-vs-yankees

With two on and two outs in the sixth, the Yankees brought in Adam Ottavino to face J.D. Martinez. The tough righty won the battle by whiffing Martinez on a nasty 1-2 slider to end the inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/rick-porcello-struggles-vs-yankees

In the ninth, the Sox had a promising start against closer Aroldis Chapman when Mookie Betts walked and Andrew Benintendi smacked a single. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/rick-porcello-struggles-vs-yankees

Once again, Martinez was the go-ahead run. But Chapman threw a 1-0 slider on the outside corner and Martinez tapped into a crushing 6-4-3 double play to thwart the rally. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/rick-porcello-struggles-vs-yankees

In his last 40 at-bats, Martinez is hitting .175 with a .667 OPS. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/rick-porcello-struggles-vs-yankees

"Yeah, I feel like every now and then there's a couple at-bats where it gets away from me but for the most part I feel like I'm sticking to my plan," Martinez said. "It's just, I'm not really getting results."

He isn't alone. In Saturday's game, the Sox went 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/rick-porcello-struggles-vs-yankees

"We've been talking about this for like a week," said Cora. "There's always traffic and all that, but we're not getting that big hit. Today, Sandy was the only one who got hits with men in scoring position. We struck out too much today. Sometimes it's a credit to them. Sometimes it's just we're expanding the zone. We don't do that often, but it seems like the last 10 days, with men in scoring position, we haven't done much." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/rick-porcello-struggles-vs-yankees

Now at a critical point in their season, the Red Sox know that there are many things they need to improve on. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/rick-porcello-struggles-vs-yankees

"It's not going to come easy for us, especially what we did last year, we're going to have a target on our back every night and we've got to be prepared to meet that challenge," said Porcello. "We've got to clean everything up -- to pitching, to baserunning, to fielding, to hitting. It's all facets of the game right now we've got to get better. We've all got to lock in and get going." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/rick-porcello-struggles-vs-yankees

First pitch is set for 7:05pm from Yankee Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN.