J.A. Happ And David Price Return For The New York, Boston Finale

J.A. Happ and David Price haven’t been in the dugout for their respective teams for the first three games of the series because they had more important things to be apart of.

The Yankees placed J.A. Happ on Major League Baseball’s paternity list on Friday afternoon. The Red Sox did the same with David Price about an hour later. “according to https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/08/02/sunday-starters-david-price-happ-off-paternity-leave/WOHQFS0d4PxXA6w1gWiroO/story.htm

But both lefthanders are expected to make their starts Sunday night. “according to https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/08/02/sunday-starters-david-price-happ-off-paternity-leave/WOHQFS0d4PxXA6w1gWiroO/story.htm

The rule allows players to take as many as three days off, but they can return after one or two days. “according to https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/08/02/sunday-starters-david-price-happ-off-paternity-leave/WOHQFS0d4PxXA6w1gWiroO/story.htm

Tiffany Price had the couple’s second baby on Thursday, a girl, and her husband has told the team he expects to be at Yankee Stadium for the game. “according to https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/08/02/sunday-starters-david-price-happ-off-paternity-leave/WOHQFS0d4PxXA6w1gWiroO/story.htm

“Hopefully he can be here with us,” Sox manager Alex Cora said before the 4-2, series-opening loss on Friday at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/08/02/sunday-starters-david-price-happ-off-paternity-leave/WOHQFS0d4PxXA6w1gWiroO/story.htm

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the same thing about Happ. “according to https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2019/08/02/sunday-starters-david-price-happ-off-paternity-leave/WOHQFS0d4PxXA6w1gWiroO/story.htm

However, they both will be back on the mound for the finale of the four game series on Sunday night in the Bronx.

New York who is leading the American League East comes into the finale with a record of 71-39 while Boston who is third in the division and 13.5 games back of their American League East rival in the standings comes into the finale with a record of 59-54. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings

In the finale New York will aim to sweep Boston while Boston meanwhile will aim to salvage a game out of the four game series and avoid being swept by their American League East rival.

As stated above,

J.A. Happ will start the finale for New York. The left-hander comes into the finale with a record of 8-6 with a 5.19 earn run average. Happ returns from the paternity list for his 22nd start of the season. He took the loss his last time out, though he logged a quality start by holding the D-backs to three runs and eight hits over six innings. He will oppose Boston left-hander David Price who comes into the finale with a record of 7-4 with a 3.86 earn run average. Price has struggled since the All-Star break, going 0-2 with a 6.52 ERA in four starts. The lefty won at Yankee Stadium on June 2, holding the Yankees to two runs over 6 1/3 innings. He is 4-3 with a 4.13 ERA in 12 road starts this season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

As for New York and Boston’s doubleheader on Saturday. The guys that dawn the pinstripes swept the doubleheader.

The Yankees continue to be amused by outsiders who marvel at Gleyber Torres' development into one of the American League's best middle infielders. Within their walls, his success comes as no surprise, and they have loved watching the 22-year-old continue to deliver big performances on the game's grandest stage. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-fifth-multi-hr-game

With a pair of big swings, Torres placed his name alongside elite company, joining Joe DiMaggio (1937) as the only Yankees to record five multi-homer games in one season prior to their 23rd birthday. Mike Tauchman delivered a tiebreaking hit as the Yankees completed a doubleheader sweep of the Red Sox, posting a 6-4 victory in the nightcap on Saturday at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-fifth-multi-hr-game

"I just try to help my team," Torres said. "In the first game, I got opportunities but I felt too excited. I think I tried to do too much. In the second game, I just tried to relax and control what I can do." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-fifth-multi-hr-game

After going hitless in five at-bats during Saturday's afternoon contest, a 9-2 Yankees victory, Torres slugged a solo shot off Brian Johnson in the third inning and added another blast facing Marcus Walden in the fifth. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-fifth-multi-hr-game

The multi-homer game was the seventh of Torres' career and his first this year that did not come against the Orioles. Owning 23 homers in 2019, Torres tied the Padres' Hunter Renfroe and the Indians' Franmil Reyes for the most multi-homer games in the Majors this year. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-fifth-multi-hr-game

"The power to all fields is the biggest thing," Aaron Judge said of Torres. "He's consistently staying through the baseball. If he's a little out front, he'll hit it to left, or if he's on it, he'll hit it to center. If he's a little late, he'll hit it to right. You never know when he's going to hit it out of the park. That's how impressive he is." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-fifth-multi-hr-game

Cameron Maybin also contributed a two-run double as part of a three-run third inning. Tauchman gave the Bombers the lead in the seventh, capitalizing on a bases-loaded opportunity by smashing a two-run single through the left side of the infield off Matt Barnes. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-fifth-multi-hr-game

"I wanted to, first and foremost, control my heart rate," Tauchman said. "The crowd was amazing tonight, so I knew the adrenaline of the moment would provide that extra. It seemed like that inning he was having a hard time locating his fastball in the strike zone, so I wanted to make sure that if I got a breaking ball out over the plate, I could hit it." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-fifth-multi-hr-game

Though the Yankees increased their advantage in the AL East to 13 1/2 games over the Red Sox, sitting eight games ahead of the second-place Rays, the twin-bill sweep came at a price. Edwin Encarnacion sustained a right wrist fracture in Game 1, and Aaron Hicks injured his right elbow making a throw to third base in Game 2, with an MRI set for Sunday. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-fifth-multi-hr-game

"I think the greatest strength of this team is the ability to overcome adversity and keep pushing forward," Tauchman said. "Obviously those are All-Star-caliber, middle-of-the-order players for us. I don't think it's a stretch to say that any sort of missed time from them is not great, but the thing about our team is that we just keep moving forward." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-fifth-multi-hr-game

New York improved to 10-0 when utilizing an opener, with nine of those games having been started by Chad Green, who worked a scoreless first inning. Nestor Cortes Jr. permitted a two-run Rafael Devers homer and Chance Adams allowed a two-run single to Mookie Betts as they navigated the bulk innings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-fifth-multi-hr-game

The back end of the bullpen locked it down from there, with Adam Ottavino handing off to Tommy Kahnle, who yielded the mound to Zack Britton in the eighth. Boston loaded the bases with two outs against Britton, who pinned them that way by striking out Rafael Devers on a nasty slider. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-fifth-multi-hr-game

Aroldis Chapman pitched around a walk in the ninth, striking out two as he logged his 29th save in 34 chances. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-fifth-multi-hr-game

"This is a good group of guys," Judge said. "We’ve got a lot of All-Stars around here. It's a fun group to play with. We're great in this clubhouse together, and that's another thing -- we've got each other's back." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-fifth-multi-hr-game

Meanwhile Boston was on the other end of the spectrum in the doubleheader as they lost both games.

They had gone a full week without winning a game, and the Red Sox turned their lonely eyes to red-hot relief pitcher Matt Barnes to end the team's worst stretch of the season on Saturday night at Yankee Stadium.

Instead, Barnes picked a most untimely situation to end his strong run from July.

Barnes came on in a tie game in the bottom of the seventh. After throwing 40 pitches and getting just one out, he left with the Red Sox down by two runs and on their on their way to a disheartening 6-4 loss to the Yankees. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/matt-barnes-red-sox-fall-to-yankees

This, after a 9-2 loss in Game 1 of the day-night doubleheader that was followed by a players-only team meeting. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/matt-barnes-red-sox-fall-to-yankees

Whatever was said in the meeting couldn't inspire manager Alex Cora's team to what they needed most -- a win. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/matt-barnes-red-sox-fall-to-yankees

And nobody felt worse about it than Barnes. In July, the righty didn't give up a run in 10 games, allowing only three hits while striking out 15 and holding opponents to a .111 average. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/matt-barnes-red-sox-fall-to-yankees

August started in a bad way for the setup man. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/matt-barnes-red-sox-fall-to-yankees

"Yeah, I mean, it sucks," Barnes said. "The guys played great tonight; the bullpen threw good except for me. We needed a win and I didn't come through. It's tough. I had guys in kill counts and just wasn't able to put them away." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/matt-barnes-red-sox-fall-to-yankees

The Sox will turn to David Price on Sunday night in an effort to snap a seven-game losing streak and avoid the indignity of being swept in a four-game series by the Yankees. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/matt-barnes-red-sox-fall-to-yankees

Almost unfathomably, it was just a week ago that the Red Sox were the team that took three straight against the Yankees to trim their deficit in the American League East to eight games. That deficit is now 13 1/2 games, and Boston has been left with little choice but to play for the AL Wild Card Game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/matt-barnes-red-sox-fall-to-yankees

Boston trails Tampa Bay by 5 1/2 games for the second Wild Card spot with 49 games left in the season. Nobody envisioned the season unfolding like this for the defending World Series champions. But they still think it can turn at any moment. It needs to start soon -- if not Sunday. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/matt-barnes-red-sox-fall-to-yankees

"We've just got to go out and do it," Barnes said. "It is what it is. We are where we are. It's not where we want to be, but there's some baseball to be played left. We've seen this team rattle off 15 out of 20 or 17 out of 20 before. We're definitely capable of doing that. Like I said, tonight, I didn't get the job done, and that one's on me." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/matt-barnes-red-sox-fall-to-yankees

In truth, it wasn't all on Barnes. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/matt-barnes-red-sox-fall-to-yankees

The offense, as prolific as the overall numbers are, has sputtered at times with runners in scoring position. The Red Sox are in another one of those ruts now. They went 2-for-11 in the nightcap with runners in scoring position, leaving 11 men on base. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/matt-barnes-red-sox-fall-to-yankees

The dangerous Rafael Devers -- who belted a two-run shot to break a scoreless tie in the third inning -- had a chance to get his team right after the mishap by Barnes. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/matt-barnes-red-sox-fall-to-yankees

Devers stepped up with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth against lefty Zack Britton. Devers watched the first two pitches go over for strikes, and then swung wildly at an 0-2 pitch well out of the zone to strike out. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/matt-barnes-red-sox-fall-to-yankees

"The last month and a half we were good [with runners in scoring position], and the last week we haven't been good," Cora said. "You have to give credit to the Rays and the Yankees, but at the same time, we've got to do better. It's been like that the last five days, six days. Kind of like, we regress. It's kind of like early in the season, we have a lot of traffic but we're not taking advantage of those situations." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/matt-barnes-red-sox-fall-to-yankees

After a long day of baseball went entirely against them, the Red Sox had no choice but to turn their attention to Sunday, and hope that will mark the end of their longest losing streak since 2015. “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/matt-barnes-red-sox-fall-to-yankees

"You've just got to go out and play -- you know? If we go out and we play how we're capable of playing and what everybody knows we can do, the rest takes care of itself," Barnes said. "It's about a process. Unfortunately it hasn't gotten us to where we want to get to right now." “according to https://www.mlb.com/redsox/news/matt-barnes-red-sox-fall-to-yankees

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