With the Yankees in the midst of a full-fledged youth movement, it was only right for Green to break out of his shell with fellow RailRiders teammates now on the roster.
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Happ will be looking to collect his 11th straight winning decision when he takes to the mound on Wednesday in NY against the Yankees, hoping to continue the game-in and game-out steadiness that Toronto manager John Gibbons has come to rely on this season.
The Yanks got one back in the bottom half of the inning when catcher Gary Sanchez pounded his fifth home run, all of them coming in his past seven games.
With the Blue Jays trailing 6-4, reigning AL MVP Josh Donaldson worked a 12-pitch walk against Adam Warren (1-1) leading off the eighth.
Or maybe it was just Michael Pineda’s early exit.
Happ can become the first 17-game victor in the major leagues Wednesday afternoon when the Blue Jays conclude a three-game series with the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
“This has always been a tough place to win”, said manager John Gibbons. “Got old Pineda out of there”. We just felt it’s risky for him. He allowed one run and seven hits in six innings April 13 in Toronto and, May 26 in New York, Happ allowed one run and three hits in a 3-1 win. Tulowitzki also went deep to help the Blue Jays complete their biggest comeback since June 2015.
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher J.A. Happ throws during the first inning of the baseball game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016 in New York.
“It just felt like the momentum was shifting in our direction”, Martin said. “It’s a team game, and we’re in it together”. It looked like he had his A-game today. “You got to hold your own on the road”. Sanchez, who became the youngest Yankee to bat cleanup before September since Don Mattingly in 1984, led off the second inning with a shot to straightaway center for his fifth home run since being called up on August 3.
“I mean obviously he’s swinging the bat really well”, Girardi said. “We just felt it’s risky for him. He’s important to us”. Toronto ranks sixth with 567 runs. After Devon Travis singled to lead off the inning, Chase Headley made a couple of mistakes in the field costing the Yankees some outs. A 4 run top of the sixth that included back to back home runs from Troy Tulowitzki and Russell Martin would have the Jays in striking distance.
“Yeah, it’s insane. But I’ll be back out there in five days and be ready to go”, he said. Headley fielded it, but instead of making the throw across the diamond to first, he went to second instead.
Giants starter Matt Cain had allowed only one baserunner – a single by opposing pitcher Ivan Nova – through four innings before imploding in the fifth.
The Blue Jays are 13-6 in their last 19 game threes of a series, and 38-18 in their last 56 Wednesday games. “I think you see the fight in the guys and we believe”.
Happ, 33, was traded to the Houston Astros on July 29, 2010, along with outfielder Anthony Gose and infielder Jonathan Villar, in exchange for then-143-game victor and three-time All-Star RHP Roy Oswalt. That was the good news. I like the atmosphere. The dugout was all good energy, and Yankee fans were ecstatic and preparing to celebrate. That might be a reason.
And for those headed to the Bronx, there will be no shortage of money-saving opportunities to cash in on the Yankees’ current hot streak.
Chasen Shreve entered and failed to retire any of his five batters.
RED SOX 8, ORIOLES 1 (7) David Price allowed four hits before a rainstorm stopped play for good after 6½ innings, and Boston beat host Baltimore for its sixth consecutive victory.
The New York Yankees took on an unfamiliar role as sellers at the August 1 trade deadline, sending away big-name relievers Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller, as well as veteran slugger Carlos Beltran, for a bevy of prospects in what appeared to be a lost season.
Blue Jays: OF Ezequiel Carrera (strained left Achilles tendon) was activated from the 15-day disabled list and started in right field. Lake also was designated for assignment July 25 and he accepted the assignment to Triple-A Buffalo six days later. He was scheduled to run through drills in the afternoon and could start Wednesday, Girardi said.
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Happ (17-3) pitched into the eighth extended the longest active winning streak in the big leagues.
