J.A. Happ Up Next To Face Former Team As New York Takes On Toronto
In the opener on Thursday it was third baseman Gio Urshela who took it to his former team by hitting two homers in New York’s 12-6 win over Toronto
On Friday another former Blue Jay will take on his former team but unlike his teammate Gio Urshella J.A. Happ won’t be hitting home runs. Instead he will be pitching to his former team trying to keep Toronto off the base paths.
New York who is leading the American League East comes into game two of the four game series with a record of 76-39 while Toronto who is fourth in the division comes into the game with a record of 47-71. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings
As stated above,
J.A. Happ will start for New York. The left-hander comes into the game with a record of 9-6 with an earn run average of 5.24. Although Happ didn't turn in a quality start last time out, he cruised for a majority of the outing before back-to-back homers in the fifth and a run in the sixth ended his night. He is looking to string together some quality starts to improve his second-half ERA of 6.04. He will oppose Toronto right -hander Sean Reid -Foley who comes into the game with a record of 1-2 with a 2.49 earn run average. Reid-Foley wasn't helped by a costly defensive error behind him during a three-run second inning last time out. Just one of the O's four runs was charged to him, and the 23-year-old righty has been solid in two starts since his July 30 recall. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers
As for the opening game between New York and Toronto,
New York routed Toronto.
Urshela belted two homers for the second consecutive evening on Thursday, clearing the fences in the first and third innings as the Yankees thumped the Blue Jays, 12-6, for their season-high ninth consecutive victory. Mike Tauchman also went deep as the Bombers became the first Major League club to hit 19 homers over a four-game span. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays
"I try to put the ball in play in those situations, with runners in scoring position," Urshela said. "I got the homers, and that's a better feeling. I'm trying to swing at the ball in the zone, trying to drive the ball more. I try to hit it with the barrel and keep my hands inside the ball." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays
Helping Domingo Germán join Justin Verlander as the only 15-game winners in the Majors, Urshela's dual blasts off Blue Jays starter Thomas Pannone gave him a career-high 16, following a 15-month span in which he was jettisoned by both the Indians and Blue Jays. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays
The Jays swapped Urshela to the Yankees in exchange for cash considerations last Aug. 4, and the previously unheralded 27-year-old appears to have found a home at the hot corner in New York, now riding a 13-game hitting streak. He has homered in three straight games for the first time in his career. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays
"I actually played with him in Venezuela three years ago," Tauchman said. "He was an incredible player then, so I've seen the offense, him being an offensive force, a doubles machine. Obviously, he's driving the ball out of the ballpark and that's not even touching on his defense, which is incredible, too. The way he's played this year, he's been a huge part of our team." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays
The first Yankee to post back-to-back multihomer games since Aaron Judge on Sept. 24 and 25, 2017, Urshela says his time at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre was instrumental, particularly the changes he made to drive more with his legs at the suggestion of hitting coach Phil Plantier. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays
"That's a big change for my career, coming to the Yankees from the Blue Jays," Urshela said. "It feels good to be here now. I learned a lot from my experience in Triple-A with the Yankees. I worked a lot." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays
If Urshela's emergence rates as the Yankees' most pleasant surprise of the season, Tauchman's isn't far behind. A late spring pickup from the Rockies, Tauchman has exceeded all expectations, with his two-run homer off Zack Godley highlighting a six-run third inning. “according https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays
"They’ve been impact players for us," manager Aaron Boone said. "They do it on both sides of the ball. It’s come in a lot of big situations. They have worked hard at getting better at their craft. They’ve done a good job of having a plan going into the game. They are going out and executing. You can see it in the confidence that they’re displaying at this level now." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays
It was Tauchman's fourth homer in as many games, and his 11th overall. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays
"I think as an offense, we're kind of in the zone right now," Tauchman said. "Look at the production we've been putting up lately. I think that definitely makes it tough for opposing pitchers to navigate our lineup." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays
Domingo qualifies
Staked to an eight-run lead through three innings, German faltered in the fifth, as Boone said thehttps://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays righty's stuff "was a little bit flat." Derek Fisher and Bo Bichette homered off German before left fielder Cameron Maybin lost a ball in the twilight that led to a fourth Toronto run. “according to
German stabilized enough to qualify for the victory, permitting four runs (three earned) and eight hits in a 90-pitch effort. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays
“Of course you feel satisfied about winning," German said through an interpreter. "As a starting pitcher, the mentality is to go out there and win the game. Go as long as you can, but at the end of the day, you want to win the game. So I’m satisfied with the amount of wins." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-hits-two-homers-vs-blue-jays
Meanwhile Toronto suffered a setback in the opening game of the four game series against New York.
- Bo Bichette, maker of history. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees
In his short time in the big leagues, Bichette has altered the record books, both in Toronto and around the Major Leagues, seemingly every time he’s stepped on the field. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees
With a home run in the fifth inning of the Blue Jays’ 12-6 loss to the Yankees on Thursday -- his fourth, and first at Rogers Centre -- the 21-year-old shortstop added to his already impressive Major League resume. The long ball extended his streak of extra-base hits to nine games, making him the first rookie since Ted Williams in 1939 to accomplish the feat. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees
“We’re watching history, that’s what we’re doing,” manager Charlie Montoyo said. “The doubles and home runs, that’s why everybody’s saying, ‘Wow.’ He’s fun to watch. I’m glad I’m here watching him. Front row.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees
Despite the feeling of familiarity Bichette’s latest accomplishments bring to a team that has seen nothing else from the young infielder during his time in the Majors, his first home run in front of a home crowd of 34,108 was one that will stick with him for at least a little while. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees
“When I hit the homer, that was the first chills moment I’ve had in the big leagues so far,” Bichette said. “Running around the bases, and the crowd was pretty loud, the loudest I’ve ever had. So that was a pretty cool moment.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees
In the sixth inning, Bichette doubled to extend his streak of two-base hits to nine games as well, the longest stretch the Majors has ever seen. The double also helped MLB Pipeline's No. 8 prospect become the first player to notch 13 extra-base hits in his first 11 games.”according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Montoyo said. “Well, what he’s doing is history, so of course I’ve never seen it, but he’s 21 years old [and] he’s hitting [.408] and hitting doubles and home runs, so I expect him to be happy, but the energy he has anyways, that’s how he plays. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees
“That’s how these kids play, so it’s going to be fun. I said it at the beginning of the season, whenever these kids get together, they’re going to be fun to watch. Right now, it’s fun to watch. If [I was a fan], I would come to the games and watch these kids play.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees
“I’d be lying to you if I said I thought that I’d be breaking records,” Bichette said prior to the game. “But I do expect to play well, and I think those records are a byproduct of putting in the work and going out there and being aggressive, and trying to treat the game like any other game.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees
The home run also gave Bichette a hit in all 11 big league games he has played, extending the longest streak to begin a career in franchise history. It's the third longest such streak by a player 21 or younger, behind Rocco Baldelli -- who hit in 13 straight games in 2003 -- and Eddie Murphy, who had a 12-game streak to start his career in 1912. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees
A seemingly unstoppable force of nature through his career-opening streak, Bichette set an additional franchise record on Thursday with 20 hits in his first 11 games, three more than any other player. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees
“There are certain at-bats where [pitchers] are challenging me, and they’ll get me out challenging me,” Bichette said. “Then the next at-bat, they won’t. There’s no really rhyme or reason to what they’re doing right now. Teams have tried to go in, then they’ve tried to go away, they’ve tried to throw breaking balls. I’m just seeing the ball pretty well right now.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees
Ahead of Thursday’s matchup, Bichette set a franchise record with 18 hits in his first 10 career games, and his 1.254 OPS was the highest in Blue Jays history through any player’s first 10 contests. He also joined Pete Alonso as the only players in MLB history to record 11 extra-base hits in their first 10 games. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees
Bichette’s home run came two batters after Derek Fisher hit his second long ball in a Blue Jays uniform, and third of the season. Sandwiched between the homers was a double from catcher Reese McGuire, whose four hits surpassed his total through his first six games this season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees
“He was taking the outside pitch and going the other way with it,” Montoyo said of McGuire. “He wasn’t pulling it. I told him, 'You can’t take four hits for granted,' because that’s not easy to do, four hits. That was good to see.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees
McGuire added a home run of his own, his second of the season, in the eighth frame, coming a triple shy of the cycle. He became the 19th catcher in Blue Jays history with a four-hit game and the first since Josh Thole on Sept. 25, 2013. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees
“It’s refreshing,” McGuire said. “It’s something you want to be able to do, contribute on the offensive side, too, especially being in the nine-hole. I want to roll that order over to Bichette, Vladdy [Guerrero Jr.] and [Cavan] Biggio at the top of the order, because those guys are right there.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/bo-bichette-homers-against-yankees
First pitch is set for 7:07pm from Rogers Centre. The game will be televised on Yes, SNET and Major League Baseball Network.