CC Sabathia To Start The Opener As New York Returns To The Bronx To Host Oakland
It was just eight days ago that New York began their nine game west coast trip in Oakland where they played three games against the Athletics and were swept.
After an off day on Thursday New York will return to the Bronx on Friday to host the team they were swept by at Oakland Coliseum for a three game series.
New York who is leading the American League East comes into the opening game of the three game series with a record of 88-47 while Oakland who is a member of the American League West comes into the opening game of the three game series with a record of 77-56 and is in second place in their division. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings
In the opening game as well as the series New York will be looking for a different result then what they got on the west coast while Oakland will be looking for the same result.
CC Sabathia will start the opening game for New York. The left-hander who is playing in his last season in the major leagues comes into the opening game with a record of 5-8 with a 4.99 earn run average. Sabathia will look to snap a four-start losing streak as he opens the Yanks' series with the A's. His last outing came at Dodger Stadium, where he permitted two runs and five hits over four innings, walking one with seven strikeouts. He will oppose Oakland left-hander Brett Anderson who comes into the opening game with a record of 10-9 with a 4.08 earn run average. Anderson pitched well in Sunday's loss to the Giants, holding them to just three runs over six innings. The left-hander is 0-6 with a 6.86 ERA in eight career starts against the Yankees. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers
As for New York’s previous game,
James Paxton picked up his sixth straight win in the finale against Seattle on Wednesday but this victory had to be a little more special for the left-hander because it was against his former team where he spent the first six years of his career in the Major Leagues.
Pax all, folks
Paxton said that it felt "weird" to be on the mound in Seattle, where he pitched the first six seasons of his Major League career, though he tried to look past the familiar opposing uniforms and focus on pounding Sanchez's glove. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-sweep-mariners
That allowed Paxton to hold his former club hitless until the fourth inning, when Kyle Seager cracked a game-tying, two-run homer to right field. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-sweep-mariners
"I was just trying not to think about it," Paxton said. "These guys make it easier on me when they're scoring that many runs. It's awesome to put runs on the board like that." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-sweep-mariners
That fourth inning cost Paxton, who lost command of the strike zone and issued four of his five walks. Though Paxton threw just 45 of 86 pitches for strikes, the lefty still improved to 6-0 in August by completing five innings of one-hit ball.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-sweep-mariners
It was definitely strange to be on the other side," Seager said. "I obviously played with him for quite a few years. I’m happy for him and the success he’s having over there, but not so happy about it today.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-sweep-mariners
As for the New York offense,
- It took all of 19 pitches for the Yankees' traveling power show to continue its barrage against West Coast pitching, as Gary Sánchez tracked the flight of his drive down the left-field line. The pure sensation of ball meeting bat ensured that distance was not going to be an issue.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-sweep-mariners
Sanchez's drive stayed true in fair territory, and the Bombers were only getting started. Mike Ford, Aaron Judge and DJ LeMahieu also went deep as the Yankees extended their Major League record for homers in a calendar month, completing a three-game sweep of the Mariners with a 7-3 victory Wednesday at T-Mobile Park. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-sweep-mariners
We've still got a couple of games to complete the month," said Sanchez, the first catcher to enjoy multiple 30-homer seasons since the Braves' Javy Lopez in 1998 and 2003. "Home runs, they come on their own. That's the kind of team we have. We go out to compete, and we find ourselves hitting homers." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-sweep-mariners
After Sanchez's homer landed near the top of the upper deck, Ford slugged his third homer of the series as the Yankees pounded Sheffield for five runs in 4 1/3 frames. Judge remained hot by greeting Matt Wisler with a towering two-run blast in the fifth inning, Judge's fifth in six games.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-sweep-mariners
LeMahieu added a solo shot in the ninth. With two games remaining before the calendar flips to September, the Bombers have now slugged 70 homers in 28 August games, shattering a previous record of 58 shared by the 1987 Orioles and the 1999 Mariners.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-sweep-mariners
"That was what we needed; two homers to get us started and let Paxton cruise a little bit," Judge said. "This whole road trip is just trying to get ahead of guys and let guys do their thing." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-hit-four-homers-sweep-mariners
Like New York, Oakland won their previous game as they topped Kansas City.
With so much attention on their upcoming three-game series with the Yankees, the A's four-game series finale with the Royals that preceded it had all the makings of a potential trap game. But manager Bob Melvin has often stated one of his club's strengths is the ability to take things one game at a time, and that's exactly what transpired. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
On the eve of their first visit to Yankee Stadium since their loss in the 2018 American League Wild Card Game, the A's capped off a series victory with a 9-8 win over the Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Thursday. The win keeps Oakland in sole possession of the second AL Wild Card. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
"We had to win this game today," Melvin said. "We go through our entire plus-bullpen guys and have to cover five-plus innings. Now we're going into Yankee Stadium for three games against them, with the way they swing the bat. We had to win today." “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
"Anytime you can take three of four from a team this late in the season, it's huge," A's closer Liam Hendriks said. "We're not scoreboard checking or anything like that, but you take three of four, you'll do all right in the long run." “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
It wasn't easy for the A's, but they managed to stave off the Royals after some more heroics from Hendriks. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
Summoned in the eighth to get out of a jam that saw Jake Diekman surrender an RBI single to Nick Dini that shrunk Oakland's lead to two runs, Hendriks recorded his third five-out save of the year.”according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
"Liam Hendriks showed up big for us," Melvin said. "The weather out there, that's a grind. You have to dig deep in that atmosphere, and everybody did." “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
Since taking over for Blake Treinen as closer on June 22, Hendriks leads the Majors with 17 saves. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
"He's having a career year and we're just riding him," A's starter Chris Bassitt said. "It's not really surprising anymore. He's been dominant." “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
The A's received contributions up and down the order, with eight of nine batters in the starting lineup recording at least one of the club's 12 hits on the afternoon. Jurickson Profar provided one of the biggest, smashing a two-run blast off Royals starter Glenn Sparkman. The 1-1 changeup left over the heart of the zone was drilled 101 mph off the bat and splashed into the right-field fountains at a projected 411 feet, according to Statcast. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
Profar's homer, his 17th of the year, was part of a three-hit day with three RBIs. He also brought home a run after getting hit by a pitch in the first, marking the 71st hit-by-pitch for A's batters this season, tied with the Twins for most in the AL. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
"We've seen him have some big games on offense, but it just seems like he's into it right now," Melvin said of Profar. "It just feels like this is his best work during this stretch. He's showing up at the right time for us." “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
Leading the way in hits was rookie Seth Brown, who turned in a four-hit effort to become just the third A's player to record four hits in one game within his first four career games. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
Brown also scored three runs, with his final run scored in the ninth the most important, and perhaps one of the more bizarre seen this season, as it provided Hendriks some extra breathing room. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
Royals third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert chased down a pop up hit in foul territory by Corban Joseph before making the catch for the second out of the ninth. But according to Rule 5.06(b)(3)(C), which states if a fielder, after having made a legal catch, should step or fall into any out-of-play area, which Cuthbert did by jumping into the A's dugout, the ball is dead and each runner shall advance one base. Brown was on third base at the time, and the rule violation called by third-base umpire Chris Segal allowed him to score, giving the A's a two-run lead. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
"I knew it right away, but you don't see it very often," Melvin said. "Chris was right on it. That's a huge play, obviously, to get that second run." “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
Brown said he was aware of the rule, as were the rest of his teammates in the dugout, most of whom immediately pointed to home plate after watching Cuthbert land on their side.”according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
"That was my first one," Brown said when asked if he'd ever scored on a ball caught out of play. "It was really nice, actually." “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
Cuthbert, however, wasn't aware of the rule. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
"At one point when I was getting close to the ball, I looked down to see where I was at -- if it was going to be a tough play," Cuthbert said. "That's why my first instinct was to hold onto the railing to not fall into the dugout. When the ball was coming down, that's the only shot I had. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
"Then the umpire said the runners were going to advance a base. I didn't know about that rule. Every day you learn something in baseball." “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
Royals manager Ned Yost said even if Cuthbert knew the rule, there's not much a fielder can do. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
"That's not a play [where the ball] goes up and you stop and think about your options, like, 'Um, do I let it fall? Do I catch it and go in?'" Yost said. "It's an instinctual play. You try to catch the ball. He caught the ball. He tried everything he could to hold himself back. But that's the way things go for us. … It couldn't have been a foot one way or the other. He just went right in the dugout." “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
With the series against the Royals in the rearview mirror, the A's now turn their attention to the Yankees, who were off Thursday. It's not the ideal situation for Oakland, which used four relievers to cover 5 1/3 innings in relief of Bassitt. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
"They ate a ton of innings this series," Bassitt said. "Hopefully the starters can go a little bit deeper." “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/jurickson-profar-rips-two-run-homer
First pitch is set for 7:05pm from Yankee Stadium. The game will be televised on Yes, NBCSC and Major League Baseball Network.