GAME #116, BOSTON RED SOX AT NEW YORK YANKEES

[Bear]

RED SOX V YANKEES

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017, 4 PM AT YANKEE STADIUM

TV:  NESN, YES

BOSTON, (65-50).............................................................................................NEW YORK, (61-53)

BOSTON:

DREW POMERANZ, LHP, 11-4, 3.36 ERA, 127K

Pomeranz struck out eight in his last time out against the White Sox, giving up
a run in 6 1/3 innings.  The lefty pitched at least six innings in eight of his last
ten starts, with a 2.24 ERA over that span.

NEW YORK:

LUIS SEVERINO, RHP, 9-4, 2.91 ERA, 162K

Severino has emerged as the Yankee ace as he seeks his fifth straight victory.
In his last four starts, he has allowed just two earned runs in 25 2/3 innings for a
0.70 ERA, striking out 32 against seven walks.

Yanks aim to gain more ground behind Severino

Matthew Martell

With both the Yankees and the Red Sox in the throes of a tight division race, Saturday's game carries more weight than a typical bout between the two rivals.

Both teams have something to prove after a decisive five-run eighth inning, and one big throw in the ninth, Friday night gave the Yankees a 5-4 win, which put them 3 1/2 games behind the Red Sox in the American League East. Saturday's contest begins at 4:05 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium.

The Red Sox nearly came back in the ninth inning when they loaded the bases on three consecutive walks with nobody out before Aaron Hicks threw out Eduardo Nunez at third base on a sac fly to complete the double play. It was a play, and a game, that Yankees manager Joe Girardi said could be a turning point to their season. Saturday's matchup will be their chance to prove the significance of Friday's win.

"I think it can really propel you and get you going again," said Girardi, whose club has won seven of 10 games vs. its rivals. "We've done it a number of times. We've had some big wins and they've got us going on a nice streak. You hope it carries over to tomorrow."

But just as a win like Friday night's can surge a team to a hot streak, a sudden lead-changing loss against a rival can also cause some teams to go cold at times, making Saturday's game just as important for the Red Sox, whose eight-game winning streak was snapped Friday, as it is for the Yankees.

Even so, Red Sox manager John Farrell isn't worried that there will be any lasting impacts on his team after coming up short on Friday.

"The way we've bounced back, the way we've come through some challenges as a group, we have responded well to them," Farrell said. "We've had our difficulties against New York this year. We recognize that. But we're looking forward to Drew Pomeranz setting the tone tomorrow at the beginning."

Pomeranz (11-4, 3.36 ERA) will start for the Red Sox. Since the All-Star break, the left-hander is 2-0 with a 2.64 ERA in five starts.

Right-hander Luis Severino (9-4, 2.91 ERA) will take the mound for the Yankees after perhaps the best five-game stretch of his young career. In his five outings since the All-Star break, Severino is 4-0 with a 0.83 ERA, and he's won each of his last four starts.

Severino's lone no-decision since the All-Star break came against the Red Sox at Fenway Park on July 15, when he tossed seven innings of one-run ball. The Yankees ended up winning the game, 4-1, in 16 innings.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS GAME

• Pomeranz is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA in seven games (six starts) lifetime against the Yankees. He's faced the Bombers twice this season, going 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA.

• Severino is 1-3 with a 3.45 ERA in six career games (five starts) vs. the Red Sox. This season, he's 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA in two starts.

• Eduardo Nunez, who was signed as an amateur free agent by the Yankees in 2004, is batting .407 with four homers and 12 RBIs in his first 12 games with the Red Sox.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170812247799530/yanks-aim-to-gain-more-ground-behind-severino/?game_pk=491835

[Bear]

Red Sox vs. NYY:

Núñez 2B,
Betts RF,
Benintendi LF,
Ramirez DH,
Moreland 1B,
Bogaerts SS,
Devers 3B,
Vázquez C,
Bradley Jr. CF,

Pomeranz LHP

[ipot]

Severino will put the bats to sleep. It's over if he pitches into the 8th.  2.5 game lead by tomorrow night.

[Bear]

I agree Ipot, if Severino is on, we're not earning the "W" today.
Our chance of winning two was last nite's game and Sunday nite with Sale.
We need Pedey but unfortunately he'll be going to the DL for at least ten days.

[Bill-806]

  "VICTORY goes to those that want it the most, want it the LONGEST"........  Col. Jimmy Dolittle, WWII ..... thumb_u

[Rob from Mass]

I agree Ipot, if Severino is on, we're not earning the "W" today.
Our chance of winning two was last nite's game and Sunday nite with Sale.
We need Pedey but unfortunately he'll be going to the DL for at least ten days.

Well said Marge.Getting a W today against the young ACE is not going to be easy.Pomeranz needs to continue pitching like a#2 and keep it close and hope the bats get to Severino.
Thankfully  Sale goes tomorrow. Winning 1-3  and we are still up 3 leaving the Bronx.

[longgame]

How quickly things turn.  This was the one game they could miss in this series, with the other two being the best chances to win.  Now it's almost a must-win as I think if the Yanks win today, they win tomorrow too. 

[markj]

Oops. Nothing like an early hole to climb your way out of.

[markj]

Tied up. The NYY walks and error cost them two runs so far.

[markj]

AB cleans up. Three-run dinger. Shades of last night's 8th inning in reverse.

[Rob from Mass]

Judge all of a sudden is STRIKE OUT MACHINE ON PACE FOR 200 PLUS.

[markj]

Pom-pom is in deep doo-doo. Bases juiced and no outs.

[markj]

Not bad. Limited damage. Just one run in.

[markj]

Wow, AB with another three-run dinger. For a second I thought I was seeing a replay of his first dinger.

[markj]

Sox are running away with this one. Shame we couldn't find some of this offense last night.