Masahiro Tanaka Aims To Bounce Back As New York Faces Tampa Bay

After being on a short leash in London against Boston Masahiro Tanaka is back in the United States where he will return to the mound tonight at Tropicana Field where the Japanese right -hander will face yet another American League East rival this time in Tampa Bay where he will look to last longer then two thirds of an inning.

New York who is leading the division comes into the second game of their four games series with a record of 56-29 while Tampa Bay who is second in the division comes into the game with a record of 50-38. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings

As stated above, Masahiro Tanaka will start for New York. The Japanese right -hander comes into the game with a record of 5-5 with a 3.74 earn run average. Tanaka lasted just two-thirds of an inning in his start in London, allowing six runs. He'll look to perform closer to the level of his two prior starts, when he allowed two runs total across 15 innings. He will oppose Tampa Bay left-hander Brendan McKay who comes into the game with a record of 1-0 with a 0.00 earn run average. McKay will be making his second Major League start after being called up from Triple-A Durham Friday. In his debut, McKay struck out three and tossed six scoreless inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

As for New York’s previous game, they won despite a particular pitcher struggling.

As he gazed out onto the field following the ninth inning on Thursday night, the look on Aroldis Chapman's face represented a mixture of defeat, frustration, anger and remorse. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

The Yankees’ closer -- one of the Majors’ best -- doesn’t slip often, but when he does, he takes it hard. A pair of wild pitches and a blown save weighed heavy on the lefty’s mind as he leaned against the dugout rail at Tropicana Field. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

His teammates didn’t give him a chance to brood for long, stringing together a five-run 10th inning that was punctuated by a moonshot from batterymate Gary Sánchez during New York’s 8-4 win over the Rays “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

“It’s unbelievable,” said New York starter J.A. Happ, who held the Rays to one run during his 5 1/3 innings. “[Chapman’s] been so good, and the fact that he kept it even there after they tied it, that’s huge for us. We feel like if we get another chance, more often than not, we’re going to get it done. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

“That’s exactly what happened." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

Victory at first appeared a given as the Yankees took a 3-1 lead -- and all the momentum -- into the ninth inning. The script quickly flipped in the bottom of the frame though, when Chapman squandered New York’s lead on an RBI double from Joey Wendle and a pair of two-out wild pitches. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

Back-to-back singles and a walk later, Chapman was officially in trouble and the bases were loaded for Austin Meadows, who struck out to send the game to extras. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

“[I had] a tough time out there right in that inning,” Chapman said, “but I was able to concentrate and get the job done.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

A pair of walks and a bunt single by Brett Gardner in the top of the 10th inning had the bases loaded with no outs as DJ LeMahieu strode to the plate amid “MVP!” cheers from the stands. LeMahieu -- one of four Yankees All-Stars this season along with Chapman, Sanchez and Gleyber Torres -- sandwiched a two-run single between short and third off Emilio Pagan. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

A pair of walks and a bunt single by Brett Gardner in the top of the 10th inning had the bases loaded with no outs as DJ LeMahieu strode to the plate amid “MVP!” cheers from the stands. LeMahieu -- one of four Yankees All-Stars this season along with Chapman, Sanchez and Gleyber Torres -- sandwiched a two-run single between short and third off Emilio Pagan. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

After Aaron Hicks struck out, Sanchez put an exclamation point on the night by crushing Pagan’s first offering into the upper-deck seats in left field. It scored three to push New York’s lead to 8-3, marked Sanchez’s 24th homer of the season and, as manager Aaron Boone said, “took the air out of the building.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

The shot traveled a projected 461 feet and left his bat at 113.7 mph, per Statcast. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

“It was maybe the farthest ball I’ve ever seen hit,” LeMahieu said. “I don’t know what the Statcast was on it, but it’s 500 feet, I don’t care what anybody says.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

“It wasn’t a terrible pitch,” Pagan said. “Probably caught a little too much of the inner half of the plate, but it was a slider down. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

“It’s one of those things where he’s just sitting on it, and he’s a really good hitter.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

Two months ago, the Yankees visited Tropicana Field under a magnifying glass and a whole lot of pressure. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

The Rays were in first place in the American League East and New York’s lineup was decimated by injury, forcing many youngsters to mature quickly in order to fill in the gaps. A sense of make-a-statement-now hung heavy in the air as a result, and the Yankees took two of three from the hosts during a series that included plenty of fireworks. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

Two months later, New York is in control of the division by 7 1/2 games and has won eight of 10 contests against Tampa Bay this season. The Yankees have dominated the division in 2019, and Thursday’s opener marked 10 consecutive wins against the AL East, their longest such stretch since May 26-July 3, 1999 (13 games). The victory also pushed New York to a season-high 27 games over .500. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

“Big-time at-bats and a great job of not letting a ninth-inning comeback define the day,” Boone said. “These guys went out and took it back.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

Sanchez’s home run snapped an 0-for-14 slump he’d been in since the London Series. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

“It’s not a secret, the kind of thing that we have here,” Sanchez said through a translator. “We never give up. No matter what happens, we’re not going to give up. Chapman came in and tried to close the game, couldn’t do that, but still held the game and gave us a chance. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

“Team effort, like always. That’s the team we have; we never give up.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-beat-rays-in-10-innings

Tampa Bay meanwhile was on the other end of the spectrum as they suffered a setback in the opening game against New York.

The Rays’ offense battled back to score two runs off Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman, but New York was able to respond with five runs off the Tampa Bay bullpen in the top of the 10th inning to take the series opener, 8-4, on Thursday at Tropicana Field. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-rally-against-yankees-lose-in-10-innings

It’s the second consecutive day that the bullpen has allowed five or more runs in the ninth inning or later. Overall, Rays pitching has allowed 17 runs in the last two games, compared to 17 runs combined in the six games prior to that. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-rally-against-yankees-lose-in-10-innings

We talked about it last night. The bullpen and that last inning has been a little bit of a challenge here as of late, and it really was no different today,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash. “Oliver [Drake] and Emilio [Pagan] both have done a really good job for us. Tonight, it just didn’t go our way.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-rally-against-yankees-lose-in-10-innings

After being held quiet through the first eight innings of the game, the Rays came alive in the ninth against Chapman, who had not allowed a run to Tampa Bay in 19 1/3 career frames. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-rally-against-yankees-lose-in-10-innings

Chapman started the inning with a four-pitch walk to Nate Lowe, and the Rays were able to make him pay. Joey Wendle delivered with a one-out RBI double to cut the deficit to 3-2. Lowe just barely beat the throw on the close play at the plate, and the call of safe was confirmed after the Yankees challenged. Wendle then came around to score on two wild pitches by Chapman, tying the game at 3. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-rally-against-yankees-lose-in-10-innings

With Chapman struggling with his command, Guillermo Heredia followed with a two-out single to start the rally back up. Yandy Diaz singled and Tommy Pham drew a walk to load the bases, but Chapman was able to strike out Austin Meadows swinging to end the threat. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-rally-against-yankees-lose-in-10-innings

In the 10th inning, however, Drake issued back-to-back walks before Brett Gardner reached on a bunt single to load the bases. DJ LeMahieu, who is hitting .480 with runners in scoring position this season, delivered a two-run single to give the Yankees a 5-3 lead. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-rally-against-yankees-lose-in-10-innings

Extremely frustrating,” Drake said, when asked about the walks. “When you do that, you don’t really give your team a chance putting two guys on for free. That can come back to hurt you. Unfortunately it did. Our offense did a heck of a job battling back there off Chapman. Really frustrating to do that.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-rally-against-yankees-lose-in-10-innings

Cash added: “They capitalize. That’s how it’s felt this season for sure against them. It’s the sign of a really good team. They’ve got a knack for coming up and getting the big hit. When they need one, they get two. When they need two, they get four. It’s a good team.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-rally-against-yankees-lose-in-10-innings

Gary Sanchez later capped off the five-run 10th inning with a three-run blast off Pagan that went a projected 461 feet, per Statcast, extending the lead to 8-3. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-rally-against-yankees-lose-in-10-innings

Sanchez was just sitting on a slider,” Pagan said. “It wasn’t a terrible pitch. Probably caught too much of the inner half of the plate, but it was a slider down and it had good velocity to it. Just one of those things that he was sitting on it and he’s a really good hitter, obviously.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-rally-against-yankees-lose-in-10-innings

Despite the two runs in the ninth inning off Chapman and another run in the 10th, the Rays have scored just eight in the last four games against New York.”according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-rally-against-yankees-lose-in-10-innings

Tampa Bay is 2-8 against New York this season and 11-18 against the Yankees dating back to last season. The Rays have been outscored 60-29 by the Yankees, who have a 7 1/2-game lead on Tampa Bay in the American League East race.”according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-rally-against-yankees-lose-in-10-innings

The Rays have three more chances against the Yankees before the All-Star break, but the offense needs to show up in order for Tampa Bay to gain ground in the division. “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-rally-against-yankees-lose-in-10-innings

“We’re playing well, but we need to score more runs,” Diaz said. “And that’s what needs to happen.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/rays-rally-against-yankees-lose-in-10-innings

First pitch is set for 7:10pm. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Sun, Yes and Major League Baseball Network.