Masahiro Tanaka Tabbed For The Finale As New York Looks To Bounce Back Against Toronto In The Bronx
The last time we saw Masahiro Tanaka on the mound he was on the mound in Cleveland at the all-star game where he Tanaka got the win in the American League’s 4-3 victory over the National League, tossing a scoreless second inning at Progressive Field, working around a two-out infield single. He threw 17 pitches (12 strikes) in his Midsummer Classic debut.”according to https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/mlb-all-star-game-masahiro-tanaka-1.33661420
While Masahiro Tanaka got to pitch in the midsummer classic in Cleveland Marcus Stroman who he will be opposing did not because of a shoulder pectoral cramp. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers
Today Masahiro Tanaka will start the finale for New York in the Bronx where he will look to help New York bounce back and win the series while Marcus Stroman will return to the mound and look to help Toronto also win the series.
New York who is leading the American League East and comes into the finale against Toronto with a record of 58-32 while Toronto who is also a member of the American League East comes into the game with a record of 35-58 and is fourth in the division. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings
As stated above,
Masahiro Tanaka will start the finale for New York. The Japanese right -hander comes into the game with a record of 5-5 with an earn run average of 3.86. Tanaka returns to regular-season action after becoming the first Yankees pitcher to earn an All-Star Game victory since Vic Raschi in 1948. He took the loss June 4 in Toronto after giving up four runs across six innings. He will oppose Toronto right -hander Marcus Stroman who comes into the finale with a record of 5-9 with a 3.18 earn run average.Toronto's only All-Star returns to the mound in the series finale against the AL East division leaders. Stroman left his last start with a left shoulder pectoral cramp. The 28-year-old right-hander has a 4.21 ERA over 16 starts and 87 2/3 innings against the Yankees. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers
As for New York and Toronto’s previous game,
New York lost to Toronto.
171. That’s how many consecutive games the Yankees had managed to score at least one run. That’s how many times -- since June 30 of last season -- that they hadn’t been shut out. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-blue-jays-loss-almost-shutout
For much of Saturday’s game against the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium, it looked like that streak would come to an end. But with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, the Yankees finally found the scoreboard when right fielder Aaron Judge hit an RBI single. Retaining the streak turned into the Yanks’ consolation prize for the day though, as their late rally fell short and Toronto came away with the 2-1 win, tying the weekend series at one game apiece. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-blue-jays-loss-almost-shutout
Obviously that's very rare,” said New York manager Aaron Boone. “It's always surprising when you get held down like that. That's sometimes the nature of it. We had our chances. I felt like we had a lot of baserunners, and I thought we had some decent at-bats in big spots. We just couldn't break through enough today.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-blue-jays-loss-almost-shutout
The Yankees’ biggest chance came in that final frame, when DJ LeMahieu -- celebrating his 31st birthday -- singled to put two men on before Judge brought the Yankees' lone run across. That’s when the crowd began to feel as if a walk-off win were a given. The players started to sense it, too. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-blue-jays-loss-almost-shutout
“Once you get one man on, that’s the biggest thing.” Judge said. “Their defense starts feeling it a little bit. Their pitcher starts feeling it a little bit. And with this team, one through nine can leave the ballpark, so if you get that one guy on anybody can go up there and tie the game. So we’re never out of any game.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-blue-jays-loss-almost-shutout
For that reason, perhaps most surprising was the manner in which the streak came to be in serious jeopardy. It didn’t take a dazzling pitching display from a lockdown ace, or a collection of stellar defensive plays by their opponent. Toronto starter Clayton Richard threw just two innings before having to leave the game with left lat tightness, and from there the Blue Jays used five pitchers the rest of the way. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-blue-jays-loss-almost-shutout
Still, the Yankees couldn’t take advantage, as their bats simply weren’t operating at their usual level. It seemed to be a continuation of a trend for the Yanks since the All-Star break. In Friday's win, they were held homerless for just the second time in their last 38 games. From May 26 to June 30, they set a Major League record with a home run in 31 consecutive games.
Meanwhile, New York starter J.A. Happ tried to stave off the Blue Jays, throwing five innings of three-hit ball with one walk and five strikeouts. But he ran into trouble in the sixth, giving up back-to-back singles with only one out in a scoreless game. With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. coming to the plate, Yankees manager Aaron Boone decided to call it a day for Happ.
“He just wanted to stay in, which I love about J.A., especially when he's throwing the ball well,” Boone said. “He wanted to finish it off. I always appreciate the guys that do that. I just felt like that was going to be the end of that inning for him anyway. We had [right-hander Adam Ottavino] set up for the two righties.”
At first, it looked like Ottavino might be able to shut the door on the threat. He struck out Guerrero Jr. and seemed prepared to retire Randal Grichuk on a bloop to shallow right field. But with the shift in effect, neither Judge nor second baseman Gleyber Torres could arrive in time and the ball dropped between them, scoring the two decisive runs of the day. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-blue-jays-loss-almost-shutout
“Baseball’s a funny game sometimes,” Happ said. “I would say that’s probably one of the best games I’ve thrown as far as execution and conviction and physically as well. … It was just that whole inning you kinda shake your head at.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-blue-jays-loss-almost-shutout
Added Ottavino, “I think some years you’re gonna get burned more than others. I think for the most part this year I’ve had some fortunate luck in big spots. Today just wasn’t that day.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-blue-jays-loss-almost-shutout
That seemed to be the case for a number of Yanks. In the fifth, the bases were loaded for Gary Sánchez, who smoked a line drive to center, but Grichuk was able to make a diving play to keep the Yankees off the board. And in the seventh, there was a called third strike on Judge, who had four hits otherwise, that looked to be considerably wide of the zone -- leading to an animated argument with home plate umpire Andy Fletcher. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-blue-jays-loss-almost-shutout
“I was a little upset because that could be the ballgame right there,” Judge said. “If I walk right there and [Luke] Voit comes up and hits a three-run homer, it could be a different story. It’s just situations like that. It’s tough. I voiced my opinion, but I can’t get tossed in that situation because I knew I’d be coming back up in the ninth and wanted another shot at it. When stuff like that happens, you’ve got to move on, but it affects the game.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-blue-jays-loss-almost-shutout
When he did in fact have that shot in the ninth, he made it count. But Voit, in his return to the lineup from the 10-day injured list, was called out on strikes to end the game.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-blue-jays-loss-almost-shutout
Despite the loss, the Yankees held on to the fifth-longest streak without being shut out in the Modern Era, and now, as Judge noted, they might have a certain edge in Sunday’s series-deciding affair.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-blue-jays-loss-almost-shutout
“With this type of offense and how we get guys on base and we hit so well with runners on base this year, it’s pretty surprising [that we scored only one run],” Judge said. “But they used their whole bullpen and it kind of kept us off balance. … I’m looking forward to tomorrow now that their whole bullpen is basically used.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-blue-jays-loss-almost-shutout
While Toronto meanwhile was on the other end of the spectrum as they evened up the series.
Daniel Hudson needed to take a breather after Saturday’s 2-1 Toronto win came to an end at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-beat-yankees-randal-grichuk
The Blue Jays brought the 32-year-old right-hander into the matchup with two outs and a two-run lead in the bottom of the eighth inning to take on the American League East division leaders, after four other relievers had already kept the Yankees off the board after starter Clayton Richard made an early exit with left lat tightness. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-beat-yankees-randal-grichuk
After hitting the first batter he faced in Edwin Encarnacion, Hudson got out of the eighth to take on the bottom of the Yankees’ order in the ninth frame with Toronto’s regular closer Ken Giles unavailable due to nerve inflammation in his throwing arm that flared up ahead of the game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-beat-yankees-randal-grichuk
“Obviously what Huddy did is pretty special,” Blue Jays catcher Luke Maile said. “He’s been kind of thrown into the closer role, pseudo-eighth-inning-get-four-outs type of role. That’s not easy to do especially when it’s hot out and you’re facing this lineup, so he’s just one example, but again it’s just about doing your job and everyone did.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-beat-yankees-randal-grichuk
The 10-year veteran fought through the ninth, walking the leadoff hitter and then allowing two two-out singles to the top of the order before recording the final out of the game to send the visitors to the clubhouse with the victory. But by the time it ended, Hudson needed a moment before he could join his teammates, staying in the dugout for several minutes after the win to decompress mentally and physically from the battle on the mound. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-beat-yankees-randal-grichuk
“It’s a grind of a lineup over there,” Hudson said. “One mistake, and that game is over. It just really takes a lot out of you, mentally more than physically. Obviously it’s hot out there, day game, in the middle of the summer, but mentally it takes a bigger toll on you, just throwing. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-beat-yankees-randal-grichuk
“I was just down there trying to cool off and mentally just relax for a second.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-beat-yankees-randal-grichuk
Ahead of Saturday’s win in the Bronx, Hudson had stranded 21 of the 22 runners he inherited this season, first in the Majors. The run he allowed in the matinee was only the second in his last 14 appearances. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-beat-yankees-randal-grichuk
“He’s been great for us,” Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo said. “He’s taking the ball and he pitches every day. He’s been great. With that many pitches against that lineup, and he didn’t have his command and he battled to get that last out, he was outstanding. He deserves all the credit. With that heat out there too, yeah, he was awesome.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-beat-yankees-randal-grichuk
Amid the impressive showing from the Blue Jays’ staff against New York, Randal Grichuk offered just what his team needed offensively and defensively to help them to the win. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-beat-yankees-randal-grichuk
The 27-year-old outfielder got Toronto on the board in the sixth inning. Grichuk drove in the Blue Jays’ only runs with a bloop single that fell into shallow right field at Yankee Stadium, bringing home Cavan Biggio and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. following a double steal that put them on second and third. respectively. The decisive blow from the Texan followed him robbing New York catcher Gary Sánchez with a bases-loaded diving catch to end the fifth and keep the Yankees off the board. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-beat-yankees-randal-grichuk
“Big hit and big stolen bases to get guys into scoring position,” Montoyo said. “That was a big run and that’s why we won, but it was a gutsy call by our coaches to send the guys who stole the bases. And the bloop single scored two runs, two big runs for us.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-beat-yankees-randal-grichuk
Grichuk’s effort helped a Toronto staff that saw Nick Kingham, Joe Biagini, Tim Mayza and David Phelps make contributions between Richard’s start and Hudson’s save. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-beat-yankees-randal-grichuk
“Clayton looked amazing the first two innings and unfortunately he had to come out which kind of puts the bullpen in a bind,” Grichuk said. “But they came through, all threw the ball well, I was hoping we could keep [the Yankees] off the scoreboard there and really show them kind of what the bullpen can do and needed to do, and they did a great job.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-beat-yankees-randal-grichuk
Added Hudson, “Rich was throwing the ball great early. We weren’t really expecting that phone call in the top of the third, but we were able to pick him up and pick each other up and get out of here with a win, our first win here of the season at Yankee Stadium. It’s always good to kind of get that monkey off your back.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-beat-yankees-randal-grichuk
First pitch is set for 1:05pm from Yankee Stadium. The game will be televised on SNET, YES and TVA Sports, OMINI.