GAME 1
The New York Yankees have not lost two in a row to the Oakland Athletics in four years. The Yankees have dropped two of three to Oakland since winning 11 straight in the series. The Yankees stranded the bases loaded in the ninth inning of a 6-5 loss in Tuesday's opener. Sabathia will take the hill looking to become the Yankees franchise's first pitcher in more than a century to win 18games in each of his first three seasons with the club Wednesday night against the visiting A's. The Husky Left-Hander has been the 17 win pitcher he has portraid over the years, but has had a rough last 3 starts posting a 1-2 record with an elevated ERA at almost 6.50, However,dispite suffering the two straight losses overall Sabbathia got credit for last Thursday's 8-4 victory at Minnesota after yielding four runs and 10 hits in seven innings, striking out nine. It has been great season for Sabbthia at Yankee Sadium this season as he holds a 7-3 record with an ERA of just over 3.10. New York has won 9 of his 13 starts there. Sabathia allowed one run and struck out 15 in 15 2/3 innings to win both of his starts versus Oakland in 2010. He limited the Athletics to one hit in eight innings of a 5-0 win at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 2. Sabbathia is only 7-8 liftime against the against the Athletics but his team has won 7 out of 10 and has allowed 3 runs or less in 7 of those 10 starts. The Yankee Bullpen seems to be keeping their composure quit well posting an ERA of just .76 in their last 3 games and saving 18 out of 23 games at home.
Oakland has not won two straight games or a series versus New York since taking the final two of a three-game set in the Bronx from June 29-July 1, 2007. The A's can accomplish both Wednesday, but they'll need to avoid a third consecutive loss to Sabathia. Oakland starter Trevor Cahill will counter Sabbathia on the slab. Cahill has not only struggled against the Yankees but has had a ruff year all the way around. He will try to avoid matching a career high for losses after giving up seven runs in 5 1/3 innings of a 7-0 defeat to Toronto on Thursday to fall to 0-3 with a 7.94 ERA in four starts since beating Tampa Bay on July 27. In his last 4 starts overall the Right-Hander has given up 7 runs in 2 of those 4 games posting an elevated ERA of 6.27. The road has not been kind to Cahill, as he has a 4-5 record with Oakland dropping 8 of his 13 apperances this season. Now he faces a Yankee team that he has struggled with his whole career. The right-hander is 0-4 with a 13.50 lifetime ERA against the Yankees, and has allowed 18 runs in six innings while going 0-2 at Yankee Stadium. He gave up 10 in two innings of a 17-7 loss July 22 in the Bronx and 8 runs in 4 innings last year, in New York. Oakland is 12-31 in their last 43 road games and Oakland are 20-45 in the last 65 meetings with 3-14 record in their last 17 meetings in New York. The Yankees have a .265 Bavg against right handers this season with a 50-37 record against them. It should be an easy 3+ run game for the Bronx Bombers.
3* NEW YORK YANKEES -1.5 -120 (SABBATHIA)
GAME 2
It was a shelling last night in Arlinton as the Red Sox laid a 11-5 routing on the Rangers. Having Jacoby Ellsbury back in the lineup certainly didn't hurt, but Adrian Gonzalez's power resurgence was the biggest reason the Boston Red Sox ended their skid in Arlington as he contributed 2 homers (one a 2 run homer) last night. Now look to keep it going as they send their Ace Pitcher, Josh Beckett to the hill. Overall he has been the franchise pitcher for Boston. The Right-Hander holds a 10-5 record overall with an ERA of 2.46 and a WHIP just under 1.00. His last 3 starts have been a mediocore Beckett going 1-1 with an ERA of 4.56. The Mariners had the pleasure of elevating his ERA back on the 13th as he gave up 5 runs off 8 hits in just 5 short innings, but not enough to damage his road record or ERA where the crafty Right-Hander is 6-4 with a 2.87 ERA. The Red Sox have won 8 of his last 13 road apperances. The Red Sox might need to score in bunches if Beckett pitches like he typically has versus Texas. The right-hander is 1-2 with a 6.37 in his last six starts against the Rangers. The Red Sox (78-50) have been able to trudge forward, but they'd been struggling at the plate heading into Arlington. Boston had averaged 3.7 runs while dropping five of nine as Ellsbury, Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis missed time, and was held to four singles in Monday's 4-0 series-opening loss. Youkilis (back stiffness) won't be back until early September, but Ortiz is ready after missing nine games with right heel bursitis. the slugger who was 13 for 26 in his last seven games before getting hurt will be in the lineup Wednesday. Bit the lineup Beckett must face looks deadly for the Red Sox. Mitch Moreland, Michael Young and Josh Hamilton all took him deep the last time he faced Texas, when he allowed six runs over five innings of a 10-9, 11-inning road loss Aug. 13, 2010. Hamilton is 6 for 12 with two homers off Beckett.
The Rangers were embarrassed last night by a team they have had great success against in the past. Before last night Texas had won 6 of their last 7 games against the Red Sox in Arlington. Now look to get back on track as they have dropped 3 of their last 4 games overall. The Left-Hander Matt Harrison will counter Beckett for the Rangers. He too has had his issues as of late.Harrison gave up six runs over 5 1/3 innings Aug. 14 at Oakland, then surrendered four runs in 4 1/3 Friday against the White Sox, though Texas battled back to win both times. Perhaps returning home will help. Harrison is 4-0 with a 2.16 ERA in his last six starts at Rangers Ballpark. Harrison held the Red Sox to one run over seven innings, tying a career high with eight strikeouts, in a 5-1 win April 3. Ortiz is 3 for 7 against Harrison, but Gonzalez, Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia are a combined 1 for 14. Overall the Ranger have won 8 of 12 behind Harrison this year at Arlington and should get the job done against Beckett tonight.
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