New York Yankees

The New York Yankees were able to hold the Oakland Athletics to one run as they take game one of this four-game series. 

  • New York Yankees: 4 (18-22)
  • Oakland Athletics: 1 (19-23)
  • American League, FINAL, Box Score
  • Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA
Pitching has been the name of the game in recent weeks and it was more of the same on Thursday as Ivan Nova and No-Run DMC silenced the Oakland A’s.

Nova, who is now filling in for the injured Luis Severino, made a strong case to remain in the rotation after he only surrendered one run on four hits across six innings of work. They were very efficient too as he threw only 62 pitches en route to lowering his starting ERA to 1.65.

Despite the solid start, manager Joe Girardi decided to go with Dellin Betances in the seventh inning to bring an end too “Super Nova’s” outing.

Offensively, the Yankees got it going in the top of the third inning when Carlos Beltran doubled to left field to score Brett Gardner. Although that lead would be erased two innings later on a Josh Reddick home run, Aaron Hicks swung the pendulum back in New York’s favor.

In the top of the sixth inning, Hicks ripped a double to left off Kendall Graveman which scored Dustin Ackley to give the Yankees a lead they’d never relinquish.

Graveman finished his day by only giving up two runs across 5.2 innings of work. It wasn’t the worst of starts, but his season ERA is at 5.48 as his record falls to 1-6.

Following the Hicks double, the Bombers were on a mission to earn some breathing room and Beltran answered the call in the top of the ninth.

With Gardner on, again, Beltran slapped a line drive into the right center field gap that kept on carrying until it landed into the seats in right. That dinger was career home run number 401, but more importantly gave New York breathing room.

In the bottom of the ninth, who else but Aroldis Chapman was there to close out a series opening 4-1 lead for the New York Yankees?

Questionable Move?

In last night’s 4-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, manager Joe Girardi pulled Nathan Eovaldi despite the fact that he retired 18 straight.

Tonight, Nova only had 62 pitches and was dazzling through six, but Girardi still decided to deploy the three-headed monster and it was 110% the right call.

In a one-run game, Dellin Betances runs circles around Nova in terms of dependability, composure, and effectiveness. Besides, the super ‘pen’s job is to close out games with a lead of three runs or less. Period.

What’s Next:

Game two in this four-game set in Oakland will come our way tomorrow at 9:35 PM ET. CC Sabathia will get the starting nod for the Yankees as Sonny Gray will oppose him.

Barring any game time decision, Sabathia should get his first start since landing himself a spot on the disabled list with a groin injury.

The big lefty is coming off an outing in which he went seven scoreless frames en route to a victory over the Baltimore Orioles. He has struggled at the Coliseum, however, as he is 4-7 with a 5.44 ERA in 15 starts.

Gray has been shaky in 2016 and is attempting to get on track. The anchor of this A’s pitching staff has yet to record a victory as he owns a 5.84 ERA so far.

In his three career starts against the Yankees, Gray is 1-1 with a 3.43 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 21 innings. First pitch will come your way on the YES Network at the aforementioned time.

NEXT: ‘The Michael Kay Show’ Goes Bonkers Over The Yankees Lineup

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