J.A. Happ Aims To Bounce Back In The New York, Oakland Finale

The last time J.A. Happ was on the mound against Oakland was on August 21st in California.

In that outing the veteran left-hander served up two run homers to Khris Davis and Marcus Semien. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/liam-hendriks-5-out-save-caps-a-s-win-over-yankees

On Sunday afternoon J.A. Happ will get another crack at Oakland and look to bounce back from his performance out west.

New York who is leading the American League East comes into the finale with a record of 89-48 while Oakland who is in second place in the American League West comes into the finale with a record of 78-57. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings

In the finale New York will aim to win the series while Oakland meanwhile will look to bounce back from their recent setback and also win the series.

As stated above,

J. A. Happ will start the finale for New York. The left-hander comes into the finale with a record of 11-8 with an earn run average of 5.57. The Yankees saw signs of improvement in Happ's last outing, when he held the Mariners to three runs in five innings. Happ lost to the A's on Aug. 21 in Oakland, where he permitted five runs -- including two homers -- over four innings. He will oppose Oakland left-hander Sean Manaea who comes into the finale with a record of 0-0 with a 0.00 earn run average. Athletics manager Bob Melvin announced that Manaea would be taken off the injured list to start against the Yankees on Sunday. This will be his first game on a Major League mound since Aug. 24, 2018, after missing most of the season with a left shoulder injury. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

As for New York and Oakland’s previous game,

After being swept by Oakland out in California last week, dropping the opening game 8-2 in the Bronx New York finally got in the win column against Oakland and with that win knotted up the series at one win a piece.

With a stalemate still in place in the bottom of the 11th inning, DJ LeMahieu came out swinging at the first pitch and smashed a solo homer to right-center field to give the Yanks a 4-3 victory at Yankee Stadium. “according https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-walk-off-home-run-lifts-yankees

“[I was thinking] ‘Yes, let’s go home!’” manager Aaron Boone said. “I mean, you play extra innings, long season, anytime you know the game’s ending on a play like that, especially a game that was a grind with a lot of big plays on both sides, everyone has a little exhale and a smile. Finally got one against those guys.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-walk-off-home-run-lifts-yankees

LeMahieu hadn’t managed a hit all day to that point, going 0-for-4 in his previous plate appearances, including three strikeouts, but his first knock couldn’t have come at a better time. It was the third walk-off hit of his career and the fifth walk-off win overall this season for the Yankees. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-walk-off-home-run-lifts-yankees

With the victory, the Yankees improved to 7-2 in extra-inning games this season, and they topped off a strong August with a 21-9 record -- their most victories in a calendar month since August 2009, the year they last won the World Series. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-walk-off-home-run-lifts-yankees

“We were going crazy. I was on deck, so I had a perfect view of it. I threw my bat and helmet in the air and got ready for the celebration,” said right fielder Aaron Judge. “[LeMahieu has] been a great piece to this team, what he’s done day in and day out, when he’s feeling good, not feeling good -- he always produces. And that’s what you look for in a baseball player and a teammate.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-walk-off-home-run-lifts-yankees

Even as the game passed the four-hour mark, LeMahieu wasn’t really thinking about ending it so abruptly. As the leadoff man in the frame, he was just trying to put the ball in play to start a rally for the Yanks. But when his hit found a place in the seats instead, he wasn’t exactly mad about it.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-walk-off-home-run-lifts-yankees

“It was a pretty good feeling,” LeMahieu said. “[I] didn’t really help the team at the plate too much today, so it was good to come through there at the end. I think I get in trouble when I try to do too much. I think that goes for a lot of guys, so I was just trying to see a pitch to hit and hit it hard.””according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-walk-off-home-run-lifts-yankees

LeMahieu wasn’t the only one who showed a penchant for heroics on Saturday, as the Yankees needed every run they could scratch together to finally overcome the A’s. It just so happened that all four on the scoreboard came via the long ball, which gave New York a grand total of 74 in August, adding to its Major League record for home runs in a calendar month. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-walk-off-home-run-lifts-yankees

While the rest of his teammates were stymied by Oakland starter Homer Bailey, striking out nine times and managing only two hits through 5 2/3 innings against him, Gary Sánchez had no such problem, providing a pair of solo shots to keep the Yanks in it early after starter Domingo Germán gave up a two-run homer to Matt Olson in the fourth inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-walk-off-home-run-lifts-yankees

“I believe he got Bailey over there in Oakland too,” Boone said. “[They were] both breaking balls and he just saw them good as they broke into the zone. [It’s] patented Gary where he just drops the head on a breaking ball down and in, and then he did a really good job getting another out and over the other way. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-walk-off-home-run-lifts-yankees

“It’s good to see him do that because we know he’s capable of going out to all fields, and usually when he’s driving the ball that way, he’s in a good spot.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-walk-off-home-run-lifts-yankees

Judge came through with the other timely homer for the Yankees with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, smacking a ball to deep right field to tie the game after the A’s took the lead again in the prior inning. It was his seventh career homer to tie the game or give the Yanks the lead in the eighth inning or later.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-walk-off-home-run-lifts-yankees

“That was an important game for us. This team battled until the very end,” Judge said. “We scratched a couple runs when we needed it, and DJ finished it.””according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-walk-off-home-run-lifts-yankees

Meanwhile, Oakland had a setback in game two of the three game series.

Although the A’s lost to the Yankees, 4-3, in 11 innings on Saturday afternoon, right-hander Homer Bailey showed once again how tough he is on the Bombers. Outside of allowing two solo home runs to Gary Sanchez, he kept the top team in the American League East in check throughout the day. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-solid-but-a-s-lose-to-yanks-on-walkoff

“That was kind of the theme of the game,” Bailey said. “They beat us with four solo shots. We played really well against them. They have one of the best records in the league. When you have two teams that want to win every game, you are going to lose some. You are going to lose some tight ones. Sometimes, that’s how it goes.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-solid-but-a-s-lose-to-yanks-on-walkoff

Bailey left the game after 5 2/3 innings, having allowed four hits with nine strikeouts. He exited with runners on first and second with two outs, but reliever Blake Treinen came in and induced Sanchez to ground out to end the inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-solid-but-a-s-lose-to-yanks-on-walkoff

“I think it was par for the course for what the bullpen has done for us this year,” Bailey said. “Treinen came in and got the out when I came out. [The relievers] held the fort down for a few innings.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-solid-but-a-s-lose-to-yanks-on-walkoff

In three starts against the Yankees this season, Bailey has allowed four runs in 17 1/3 innings.”according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-solid-but-a-s-lose-to-yanks-on-walkoff

“I don’t know. Maybe they are catching me on the right day. I don’t think it’s one thing in particular. It would be really hard to say,” Bailey said.”according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-solid-but-a-s-lose-to-yanks-on-walkoff

Said Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge of his club’s struggles at the plate outside of their home runs: “Their pitcher was doing well, working the corners, and the bullpen kinda frustrated us a little bit.”according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-solid-but-a-s-lose-to-yanks-on-walkoff

Bailey has been a solid acquisition since the Athletics brought him over from the Royals on July 14 of this year, winning five games in nine starts. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-solid-but-a-s-lose-to-yanks-on-walkoff

Oakland has a tough time scoring runs

The Athletics left 15 runners on base against the Yankees on Saturday afternoon, loading the bases three times without scoring. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-solid-but-a-s-lose-to-yanks-on-walkoff

“[The Yankees] were giving us opportunities to take that one and we couldn’t do it,” said center fielder Mark Canha. “We have to have better at-bats tomorrow. We were right on the cusp of breaking it open a couple of times. We needed that one more hit. It didn’t work out unfortunately.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-solid-but-a-s-lose-to-yanks-on-walkoff

Oakland even thought they had taken the lead in the 10th inning when Matt Chapman hit a ball to deep right field. It looked like it was going over the wall, but Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge took advantage of his 6-7 frame and jumped at the warning track to make the catch. “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-solid-but-a-s-lose-to-yanks-on-walkoff

I was sure hoping it would go out,” Canha said. “I was willing it to go out.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-solid-but-a-s-lose-to-yanks-on-walkoff

“You have a 10-foot outfielder out there in right field. It probably goes out if he doesn’t catch it. It was a game of inches today. They finally got the big hit,” Athletics manager Bob Melvin said.”according to https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/homer-bailey-solid-but-a-s-lose-to-yanks-on-walkoff

First pitch is set for 1:05pm from Yankee Stadium. The game will be televised on NBCSCA, Yes and TBS.