 MLB the show's coverage of Major League Baseball is on the air. Coming up, we've got a good match up in store between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees. It's Yankees' baseball, and it comes your way next. James Paxton, the left-handed Canadian, gets the starting assignment here. Then, please act. What's the word on him? Hey, you can tell by this strikeout-to-walk ratio, two-to-one, that this guy is more a pitch-to-contact guy than a strikeout-walk guy. Standing in, Kevin Kiermeier. He will lead this one off today. Leading off the afternoon for Tampa Bay, the center fielder, Kevin Kiermeier. Ready to deliver, here's the first pitch. First pitch, 107. Into the wind-up, here comes the 0-1. A swinging strike, and now it's 0-2. Into the wind-up, here comes the 0-2 pitch. This one's outside, quite a bit off the plate that time. He's up in the zone a lot right now. Sometimes that can be effective, but I think you have to be careful with that, especially during a day game, where the ball tends to carry a lot more. Had to sit back on the change-up, and he did a good job to get the bat on that one. Great job by the pitcher right there to put him in the proverbial rocking chair. Slowed him down, sped him up, slowed him down. Let's see where he's going now. Now a fast ball, but that's easy to lay off, and it's back to even at 2-2. Still hanging with him, another good swing to keep it going. Here's another 2-2. Gotta love the battle we're seeing right out of the gates in this game. That's seven pitches now, and if this is any indication, we're in for a good contest here. A bouncer up the middle. Torres brings it in, and he's retired one away. And they mark people. So striding in, Jose Martinez, five base hits in the series for him through nine at bats, so he's been very productive at the plate. Drops in a strike to start the at bat, nothing in one. Well, this Yankee ball club entering play this afternoon here. They're on a great run of late as they come in winners of seven of their last nine games. Yeah, Maddie, this team finds itself with a huge lead, double digits right now, and climbing, playing really good baseball. Some people will say, oh, you don't want to have that big a lead. You start resting on your laurels. I look at it the other way, man. You've earned the right to kind of get some guys off their feet if the manager wants. There's a lot of different ways you can go about it. This team's focused in playing really good baseball. I would not worry about it. Keep pushing the throttle. Two balls in a strike now, three and one. Good job to work to count and put himself back in the driver's seat. Started off with one strike, and now he's got to count his favorite three and one. Full count, three balls and two strikes to the raised D.H. Faces your empty one man out. He takes strike three called on the fast ball, couldn't pull the trigger in their are two away. Into the box now, Austin Meadows, one of the better hitters in the league this year, currently seventh in the American League in hitting. What a terrific season this guy's having up near the leaders in batting average without a doubt the highest average and the best hitter on this team. He's ready. Here's the first offering. Hey, they say solos won't kill us, but I got to believe this guy's looking to do exactly that. The 1-0. Pretty easy takes to start out this at bat. None of those pitches were even close to the strike zone. Faces are empty here with two men out and a good comeback fastball there. It's two balls and a strike. That's not a pitch he misses very often. He knows he should have done something with that one. To two and two now. This pitchers feeling the flow right now. Two outs in the first inning. He's got really nice mechanics working right now, blew that fastball right by it. Here's a fly ball, well hit. Judge retreats to the track and he'll put this one away. So a sigh of relief as the side is retired. One more look at the final out. A teeth rattle or if ever there was one. Bottom of the first straight ahead, we are scoreless on the show. Charlie Morton, a right-hander from the garden state of New Jersey gets the ball here. What do you have for us on him, Denny? Hey, this guy's had a solid year up to this point. It's not an easy thing to do in baseball this year with all the high scoring games, but this guy has an ERA of sub three and that's saying something. If he continues to do that, I think you're gonna see a really good performance out of him in this one. Stepping into the box with Gardner and there's a look at his home and road splits so far this year. First pitch of the at-bat. This one to right field and deep off the bat of Gardner. So it's a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the first. 12 home runs for him now thus far as the Yankees will grab a one to nothing lead. Yeah, we always talk about how important it is to spot your starter or run it to early in the game and he does just that. Blasting a no doubt bomb that serves notice, they're going to be swinging with the wood here. No better way to get the home crowd into it right out of the gates. Close on that swing, no balls and a strike. And guys, the rays as they begin play here this afternoon, they come in not exactly setting the world on fire as they've dropped five of their last eight ball games. Yeah, Maddie, they cannot allow that one run to deflate them. I know they haven't been playing well recently, but that's nothing in today's game. The way guys are hitting home runs at an epic rate, they just need to calm down and get on the offensive side of the ball. Windup and the O2 pitch. Bases are empty here, nobody out. They'll stand alive, putting together a really good at bat here. And it's a ball and two strikes now to Aaron Judge. They'll try to get him fishing there, but he won't offer in the dirt and it's back to even at two and two. Now here it comes. And this is swung on and missed and the American League's leading hitter has gone on strikes one away. Oh man, he's been absolutely getting overmatched at the plate the last couple of games. That's his fifth strikeout in this series alone. So clearly this pitching staff, they figured out how to attack this guy. We'll see if he can make any adjustments. Giancarlo Stanton now. He'll take a look at ball one. Swing and a shot hit down the corner. Definitely had the distance, but it winds up a foul ball from the windup, the 1-1 pitch. And he misses two and one. I don't blame him for not coming over the heart of the plate. He circled this guy on the lineup card when he got to the yard today. He's been swinging one of the hotter bats in the game. One out, nobody on. 2-2 is swung on and missed strike three. This tells me a lot about this guy. He's done a real nice job bouncing back from that home run to strike out the next two guys. Sometimes you're going to get taken deep, but it's all about how you respond that really matters. So now to the plate, Gary Sanchez, as he takes a fastball off the plate for a ball one and all. Weighing inside with that one, a pretty easy take there. Looks like that bomb earlier in the inning kind of put this pitcher on the defensive. That being very aggressive right now. 2-0 pitch and that one's over for a strike. That's evidence of a pitcher and catcher being totally in sync out there. That tells me they both know that's a good pitch for him right now. It's fouled away. Two out, nobody on. And he holds off on the breaking ball so the count runs full. If you're at the plate right now, you have to realize who's on deck. I guarantee you something's over the heart of the plate. You have to be aggressive in the zone right here. And whoa, awfully close, but it's ball four according to Woody Keller. And I'm sure the manager is just fine with that. I mean, it's better to battle a slugger like that to the end and end up walking him than serving on up or he can really hurt you. And that'll bring up Gleber Torres. In prior outings against Charlie Morton, he's four for 14. First offering on its way. Torres is really a well-balanced hitter. That doesn't seem to matter whether he's facing right-hander or lefty. He makes a lot of loud contact either way, which is quite rare in today's game. Yeah, you can tell this guy really pays attention, puts time in the cage, studies the video, seems to always have a game plan and is not off balance too much. Sanchez is off a first with two away. Fastball misses in the dirt as he tried to get him to chase the low one. Hey, I get it. He wants to set up that breaking ball down it away, but that 0-2 fastball wasn't even close. The 1-2. And here's a ball lifted back toward the stands in right. So we'll try it again at 1 and 2. As a look, now the pitch. Got to take advantage of that pitch right there. 0-2 breaker hanging over the heart of the plate. Not going to see too many of those today. The 1-2. I love these Grindriff bats right here. Kind of a lot Wade Boggs in the early 80s, where he would just foul off strikes that he didn't want to hit and wait for that pitch he was certainly sitting on and drive it off the monster. 2-2 is looked at and the count moves full. Good running count right here. Three balls, two strikes, two outs, run run first. He'll be off to the races on this pitch. On the eighth pitch of the at bat is the one that finally does it as he wears him down and the inning is over. Yankees are off and running early thanks to the solo home run. We'll head to the top of the second. Now one-nothing Yanks. Now Hunter Renfro, in yesterday's game, he was responsible for the only run driven in by his club. The over shift here, now the pitch fouled away. He fouls this one off. Freezes him as he becomes out number one. Not a lot of guys throw that knuckle curve but some guys have a lot of success with it. Some say it has more bite than the traditional curveball but I think it's more of a field thing. It just works for certain pitchers and it worked right there. And that will bring in Yandy Diaz as he will take strike one on the fastball here with no balls and a strike. And he's a guy looking to break out in a big way. Hasn't been getting the results he or his club have been hoping for. Into the wind up, here comes the 0 and 1. Here's his strike with the breaking ball. Sort of surprising to see a five hole hitter take two in a row for strikes to start at bat. Now he's way behind the count so we'll see if he can battle back. Filthy change up that time but he's able to make contact and he'll get another chance. Next 0-2, ball swung on and missed as he just reared back there two away. Hate to be captain obvious here but he looks great to begin the start. That's already three Ks for him and the first five hitters. It'd be awesome to see him keep up this pace. Brendan Lau, first two men in the inning have both gone down via the punch out so we'll see if he can fare any better. Now here it comes. Well located fastball right there if he can continue to do that he'll pitch deep into this one. Big swing and a miss at the fastball and he's behind in the count 0-2. Lau, a 25 year old, he was selected in the third round back in the 2015 MLB draft. Yeah, Maddie, they certainly got it right when they drafted this guy. He has turned himself into an absolute superstar. Everybody knows this guy's name and kids are buying his jerseys. Yankees lead this one to nothing here in inning number two. He strikes out this side in order. Three up, three down, three strikeouts. Not too shabby. More to come on the show Sunday baseball after this. Blake, Mike Tokman. They all for him yesterday but back out there for this one. First pitch coming, here it is. And he'll try to crowd him there to start the at bat, it's 1-0. As a veteran out on the mound that's a pitch that you expect to get a call on. Gotta believe he keeps pounding that spot until he builds a rapport with the umpire. Now the 1-0. No, that's the ball. He walked a guy back in the first and now he's looking like he might hand out another free pass to the leadoff guy here. You can't be walking a guy in inning and think you're gonna have any success. Three-one is a fastball and he can't connect three and two. He was able to sneak that fastball by him on three and one so now we've got a battle on our hands. Three, two pitch, fouled off. Try it again, three and two. And he takes ball four. Leadoff man's aboard here to begin the home half of the second. That leadoff walk is a great way to start this inning when you're looking to pad the lead. Could be the beginning of good things here in this half inning. That'll bring in Giovanni Urschella. First at bat for him as he enters play third in the American League batting race. Guy continues to swing a hot bat. Hit over 300 last month. We'll see if he can keep scorching here in this one. First pitch of the at bat on its way. And a fastball is in there for strike one. Pitch on its way. Tuckman aboard here at first with nobody out. And a check swing. Did he go around? No, says the first base umpire. It's ball one. Two balls and two strikes now. So you'd love for him to offer at that one but the execution was flawless. Nice curveball that starts in the zone and breaks just out. Just a great take by the batter. Slowly hit to first. I don't think they can get two. To second for one but no real shot at two as he saved easily at first. So that one wasn't quite hit sharply enough to turn two. Yeah, choppers like that make it really tough. You can't make the ball get to you much faster. So the key is making sure you feel that cleanly and at least get one which they did there. Coming to the plate now. Luke Voight in prior outings against Charlie Morton. He's just one for six. Ready with the first pitch here it comes. Starts him out with a cutter and he gets him to swing through at one strike looking at his career totals. Voight carries a batting line little over the 260 mark. Here's a breaking ball but it doesn't quite find the strike zone. Hey they tried to tie him up on that last pitch so I like that they went away with this one. The execution didn't work but I like the idea behind it. It's fouled away. Runner's on first with one down. Tough curveball that time but he's able to make a little contact to keep this at bat going. Looked like the fastball got away from him there. That's a good take on a fastball out of the zone. Hey I get it he's looking for a ball to drive but that ball was a little bit too far up in the zone. That's one you normally pop right up. Oh and this is swung on and missed four strikeouts already and that's out number two. Well his struggles continue. It's been a rough goal that at the plate with him and watching this at bat. It's clear to me that his rhythm and timing they're just all up. Even as a pitcher like I was you can tell these things and exploit them. And that'll bring up Tyler Wade as he'll take strike one on the inside corner. He takes his first cuts in this one with the man at first and two away. Set here's the 0-1. A swing and a ground ball to third. Throw to second for the foreshad and the side is retired. One left for the Yankees. We play two innings. It's one to nothing. G-man Choi the next to hit. He starts off the inning against a guy who struck out the side last inning. How do they get to him here. I'm not sure Matt that they want to stay as patient. He's been throwing a lot of strikes. They might want to start swinging a little bit earlier in the count. First pitch of the at bat on its way. Didn't quite catch the zone there. Ball one is taken for ball two and it's three and oh. Just a little bit off to start the third now. That's three straight balls and a good comeback there. It's three and one. One of the best ways to keep a guy uncomfortable is to pound him inside. They're doing that and this one caught the zone and he lays off their ball four. So the leadoff man is on here to begin inning number three. They haven't been able to register a hit against this guy. But at least they have a base runner here. We'll see if that leads to something. Now Willie Adams the head to head with James Paxton. He's one for five. Here's the first pitch to him. Swing and misses. He was way in front of that one. Nobody outrunner on first one as he lays off below the zone. Here's the one one pulled in with that one as he's way out in front. And that misses two and two. Now here's one hit in the air to the right side and the rays are in the hit column and that runner will go no further than second as there are two aboard now. The kept man he's seeing it like a beach ball right now. Even his soft contact is finding holes there. He's making it nearly impossible for a pitcher right now up down in and out of hard soft. Anything you throw forward to home plate this guy seems to somehow be able to find a hole. Mike Zanino is next as he finds himself behind 0 and 1. And you see that average below the dreaded Mendoza line on its way now to Zanino. Challenge pitch coming up here. He probably doesn't want to flirt with loading the bases. Off the change up and he's ahead in the count now three and one. You fight so hard to get into these type of counts. You can't let this pitch get away from you. You have to keyhole something middle of the plate. Full count now three and two. Hard hit ball to second one there. Devoid in time for the double play. Made him throw a lot of pitches and that at that. But he'll take the double play as a trade off for sure. Here's Kevin Kiermeier as he's got a chance to tie this ball game up with that equalizing run just 90 feet away at third. First pitch on its way. Now a ball lined to the left side foul one offering in there and it's oh to now. This is a perfect time for him to break out that nasty change of great arm action on it and bury something in the dirt trying to get a swing and a miss. And it's a ball and two strikes to Kiermeier now fouls this one off and to here it is now a swing and a ball popped in the air back behind short. Torres is there and he puts this one away for the third out so a great job there of working out a potential trouble. One left for Tampa. It remains one nothing. And we're back for the bottom of the third. Let's check in with Heidi Watney. Thanks Matt. I talked with Yankees manager Aaron Boone during the break about the team's offensive performance so far and flat out he was very pleased with the quality of their at bats. Yes they've only scored one run but he said they've done a great job of forcing the pitch count up and he thinks that's going to lead to more offense for them as this game goes on. Good stuff Heidi. Thanks. Ready to go for the last half of the inning and that'll bring forth the veteran outfielder. Brett Gardner that last half he turned around a pretty good fastball so I'm kind of thinking this guy's a good fastball hitter so I might want to move that ball up and down and in and out and try not to throw it right down the middle of the plate. Started to go around but it's ruled strike one anyway. Gardner the native of South Carolina. He's a veteran of 13 years at the Major League level which really points to the consistency he's shown since he first broke in. Yeah Matty this guy has had an amazing career and you know what it's a testament to how hard he's worked the changes he's had to make this is a game of adjustments and you don't hang around this long if you're not prepared to make some adjustments along the way. Even count two balls and two strikes. He and two to the Yankees center fielder. Three and two pitch is a swing and a miss that strike three. Yeah as they say there's a hole in his swing in that location so a good job there of exploiting that. That can be real hard for some guys to overcome when teams start figuring out what locations you just can't handle. And that'll bring up Aaron Judge as he'll lay off a curveball in the dirt for ball one over one here in the early going bouncer to the left side a diving effort here as he gets a glove on it for a will not be in time at first a good effort that time but not enough to prevent them from getting a one out base run. Nice effort by the shortstop right there kept it in front of him that's that's all he could do right there Dan deal on a spot like that. That's an infield single. That's a tough play just to knock that ball down was a pretty good job but any way you look at it that should be scored a base hit and I'm sure it was. Thing in one count. Here it comes. No he's looked at for strike two. It pretty aggressive pitch right there up in the zone. Surprised he didn't offer at it. Three balls and two strikes to the Yankees DH. I wouldn't be surprised to see the runner moving here on that three to pitch with only one out but this guy at the plate swings the bat really well so it's likely he'll put the ball in play if it's a pitch worth swinging at. Ready to deliver the full count pitch fouled off three to one more time. Fastball strike three called as he couldn't pull the trigger and there are two away. So we're going to hit first here with two gun in the inning and that'll bring up Gary Sanchez. He set and the pitch. Pulled the fastball down a little too much there. That's ball one. We're only in the third inning and his pitch count is above 60. That's not being too efficient with your pitches. The 1 0. Judge the runner at first with two gun. Breaking ball called just a bit low. The fastball inside so he's in the driver's seat three and one. Pretty good pitch right there. Fastball in off the plate. One of the things you want to do as a pitcher try to stand those hitters up. Count full three balls and two strikes. Good spot for an RBI. Put the ball in play with the runner in motion. He could score all the way from first. And another foul ball. Back up the middle and that's through for a hit. There's a hard hit brown ball. Pitcher not able to get a glove on it. Hard single up the middle. Watch your lips right there. Dad sent it back right where it came from. Standing in now. Torres as the first pitch misses to him. It's ball one. Two on two out for him here in the third. Ready with the 1 0. Got to find a way to execute either a good fastball down and away or flip something off speed for a strike. You cannot miss over the harder plate in these situations. The hitter is on high alert. The 2 1 0. Most good pitchers know that they have to work inside and sometimes even come off the plate to keep hitters from getting comfortable up there. I think that was part of the intent with that last pitch. 3 0 pitch. Hit hard on the ground a second. He's got it. And the two out threat will not come to pass as the inning is over. Yanks strand a pair but they're on top one to nothing. New winning shot to get underway and standing in is the D.H. Jose Martinez. First pitch of the at bat on its way. And boy a high strike called there. That's not all that consistent but it's strike one. One of the biggest factors on how long you're going to go with a start is how many first pitch strikes you throw. 80% usually means you're going to have a pretty good day and that's on the menu so far. A ball and two strikes now in the knuckle curve that time got him swinging and that's the first out. Opportunity now to take a look at some of the future players in the Yankee organization as our road to the show report spotlights a couple of guys that have been playing well in recent action. Now Austin Meadows. He swings and hits it foul off to the right and out of play. Fly down in his first at bat so make him 0 for 1 so far. Here's the pitch and this pitch is looked at for a ball and that leave in the count of the raise right fielder at one and one. No runs just one hit and no errors for Tampa Bay so far. Can't keep the weight back and he falls behind one and two. Cut fastball there and he got him to swing through it for the second out. No better way to minimize the potential damage a cleanup hitter can do than to strike out both guys in front of him. Always a confidence boost when you can sit down with the guys at the top of the lineup. Plate now Hunter Renfro as the first pitchers have been high it's ball one two balls and no strikes to the raise left fielder. And there's the first strike two and one. That's a pitch he'd like to have back. You're not going to see very many pitches like that from a pitcher of this quality. I'm sure he'd like to have that one back to take a swing at it. Now the two one pitch. He's swung on and missed for strike number two and he misses with that one down and in. It's a full count now three and two into the wind up ready with the payoff pitch and well awfully close. But it's ball four according to Woody Keller. And you can tell by his body language that he's beyond frustrated by that call. He's got to be wondering what he's got to do. But the last thing he needs to do is to let it get under his skin. That will only make things worse into the box. Andy Diaz comes into this at bat 0 for 1 in the ball game. First delivery to him on the way. Hey I know the tying runs at first right here. But if the pitcher on the mound executes keeps the ball in play I think good things are going to happen. Renfro leads off first with a pair of outs in the inning in the dirt here. And that'll hurt as the runner will move into scoring position now. Well the graphic here isn't going to properly show just how far that pitch was from the strike zone. That thing wasn't even close. And I think it made the decision to move up a base. Pretty easy to make. Little jumpy there as he swings through the fastball. A high fly ball headed for the left field corner. If it stays fair it's gone. But it bends just fouled into the second deck. One and two here it is. At opposite field as he lines this down the line and right. And this will find the wall deep in the corner. The tag and he's outgoing for a second. That'll end the inning but they do score one on the play. Razel settle for just the one. On now to the bottom half of any number four. All tied at one and one. Plate now Mike Tuckman. He'll swing and lift the ball fouled off to the left and out of play. He'll enter play here with an average just over 250. Four home runs and 14 driven in. It's fouled away. Got to bounce a curveball on 0 and 2 but he holds back. It's one and two now. Hey the fish ain't biting there on that 0-2 breaking ball but you got to be careful because this pitcher might throw him another one. Here's the one and two delivery. He might have to look for a different way to put this guy away on 2-2. He's already seen the curveball a couple of times so he might be looking for it. The pitch. I got him swinging on the split fingered pitch and that's out number one. Digging in to try it again. Giorg Shella to the first pitch to him. Strike taken as that one crosses over the inside part of the plate. One run on three hits and no errors for the Yankees so far. Hard hit ball to second and this will get through in the right and he's aboard with a single. Nothing fires me up more than watching an offensive player stay inside a baseball and drive it the other way. The first pitch to him runs a bit inside for ball one 0 for one for him here in this one. 2 and 0. You never want to fall behind as a pitcher but doing it to a guy like this is even worse. He's got to bear down and execute for the rest of this at bat starting right now. The 2 and 0 pitch on first here with one gone in a 1 1 tie lays off the split finger that time with one team's been struggling on offense. Let your D work for you right here pound his own. He loses him on ball four. Second baseman. Stepping in Tyler Wayne is 0 for one thus far with the first pitch here it comes. This is the left handed hitter that can fly down the line if they want to turn to they're going to have to be almost perfect. He can strike one way 25 year old. He was a fourth round selection back in the draft of 2013. Hey this middle round selection is still developing but he's doing it at the big league level and he has a lot of time to get his tool set. He's got to hurry the second for one the veteran Brett Gardner. He went down on strikes last time up. There's a fastball on the inner third taken for a strike. It's not always about filling up the strike zone all the time every inning. He's pitching well as we're moving into the middle innings but interestingly less than 50 percent of his first pitches and then for strikes the 1 1 runners at the corners two men out. Neither guy willing to give in and the at battle continue time toward the alley and left center and this is going to get down for extra bases as that'll get one if not both of them home. The lead rounds the corner and is headed home. He scores as they extend the lead a bit. It's now a three to one game. With that base hit right there D-roll that's his third RBI of the game. More importantly his team's now ahead. Yeah these are the special ones. He's had a great approach all day. He's battled his tail off and he's given his team single-handedly almost given his team a chance to win this one. Here's big Aaron judge. The line to the left side but foul Gardner at second with two down outside for a ball one and one. These guys hitting aren't in first place by accident. They excel at getting out to early lead so this is a big moment in this game. If they're able to lengthen this lead any more in this inning they're going to be in really good shape to come away with a win today. One one gets a swinging strike. The one two. Slap hard the opposite way. Oh and it eats him up a bit. Lung scores from second and it's a four to one game so he's able to come through here with two away and that's a good time to check out our RBI leaders on the league leader board. And as you see he's right up there among league leaders in that department. And digging into the batter's box next will be Giancarlo Stanton. One and oh the count. Move over to first and he has to dive but he's back in easily. Three runs already home here. Two balls and no strikes the count is Stanton. A couple of strikeouts early in the game but he's done a much better job in this at bat trying to get ahead and put himself in a good hitters count. Now the two oh. You look in the dugout you can tell that manager is getting ready to come out on that top step. If he doesn't get out of this situation right here and it's a tough one. I think the bullpen comes in. The pitch is laid off. But in there for strike one. Got to believe he had the green light in that situation. Two outs three oh count. This guy can certainly handle the bat. That's a perfect situation to let him lose. But I love the fact that he's key holding a certain area and it wasn't what he was looking for. On first with two away fouled away. Good at bat that time as he lays off for ball four and as a result that'll move a runner up into scoring position now with two away. And I think this walk has been great at him for a bit. He just missed and now the inning continues with the man in scoring position. Brendan McCain answers the call from the pen here in the fourth as they didn't get the outing they were hoping for from their starter. Gary Sanchez will be his first assignment here as he'll face him with runners at first and second and two away from the stretch. Fastball just misses that's one and this is pulled fouled as he was way out in front there. Two down runners at first and second fouls this one off the one to swung on and missed he got him on strikes. So three runs on three hits no errors and two left. We played four full the Yankees lead it four to one. Welcome back Heidi Watney standing by as we get set for the top of the fifth. Race manager Kevin Cash talked to me in between innings about his lineups offensive production and flat out he told me they just need to put better swings on the ball right now. He said they're searching for ways to drive the ball with some authority because it's just not happening for them today. They haven't gotten an extra base hit yet. So it's been a real struggle getting guys into scoring position. But the key he said is not to panic. Sometimes you just have to fight through the downturns and keep your focus and energy high. Thank you Heidi. Pitch coming here it is breaking ball that time that misses out of the zone. Pitcher wants to have a quick inning right here capitalized on the momentum his batters have the 1 0 couple of righties starting to loosen now in the bullpen from the wind up the 1 1 pitch. He turns this one around high and deep to center field and it's gone. Although shot to right center number 10 for him on the year and the raise draw closer it's now a 4 2 ball game. Well if you're going to give up a towering blast one of the best players in their lineup it's better to do it with no one on base. It's staying sure but a solo shot isn't going to be the deciding factor in a game. So now to the plate. G-man showing and he'll take a called strike here on a borderline pitch it's strike one. He drew a base on balls his first time up. Here's a cutter that's off the plate one and one on that fastball is too much for him there one and two. He is in complete command out on the mound today. He's got all four corners locked in and now he's raised an eye levels to look like the fastball got away from him there it's ball to drive snagged on a short hop on the first so a good bounce back pitch there as he gets the ground ball for the first out. So stepping in Willie Thomas he's singled his last time up. He's ready. Here's the first offering in there strike one bases are empty one man out hit out towards second field it cleanly throw gets him to down now as Mike Zanino comes the first pitch to do it but I've got a question the pitch calling right there with the guy like this at the plate you got to attack him with their fastball instead of pitching him like he's a middle of the order power guy to an old count here it comes two balls and a strike it's not easy to get your barrel to a pitch that high that can be an effective location as long as he keeps it above the letters to two and two now hey I got to commend him a little bit lead off homer and now he's one pitch away from getting out of this inning without any further damage fouled off bases are empty here with two men out and he misses this one inside and that'll run things full three and two one of the things you want to do with a starter get that pitch count up here's another productive at bat is this count now gets to three balls and two strikes full count here here comes the pitch and he struck him out his seventh of the ballgame and that ends the inning A's answer right back on the solo home run bottom of the fifth coming up the Yankees for the raise to set now for the bottom of the fifth and stepping up as the shortstop tourists first pitch of the at bat on its way action in the raise pen now as they've got a lefty and a right hander up and throwing fouled away one ball and two strikes the count on two is a breaking ball that can't find the zone and it's even at two checks swing and he went around says the home ball is rolling but it's out number one ready once again Mike Talkman he looked to bounce back after striking out his last time ready to deliver here's the first pitch for two our score here as we play any number five one and two that was ugly Audi if you're waving at me to two balls and two strikes now and he takes three so it's a full count now while swung on and missed and for the second time today he's gone on strikes two up two down on strikes in this inning he looks really sharp out there guys standing in now Geo or Shella so watch one missed down and in for a ball one and oh he's working on a one for two games so far he's ready here's the one oh on that one two balls and a strike two out nobody on a little early and now it's even at two and two trying to strike out the side here it is and they're working the outer half here but that one's wide for ball three swing just a little early and he'll see another payoff pitch pops this one up Meadows coming in on it and nope this one falls so he'll get another shot keeps fighting him off the eighth pitch of the at bat coming up grounder hit hard down the first baseline but this will get foul so they'll do it again three and two and this one misses for ball four and the Yankees get a base runner here with two away standing in look boy and we'll see if they can make him pay for the two out walk always considered a big no no of course first pitch of the at bat and here's a fastball called for strike one that was a pretty good fastball after he walked out of the box there was a little angry on that heater and this one's in the dirt but it won't skip away far enough for the runner to advance Bershella is off a first with two away swing and a miss on the cut fastball in one and two I'll tell you if I'm pitching right now I'm not throwing anything near the strike zone until these guys prove they can lay off it they're just being way too aggressive so a full count now for the guy in the lead where nothing comes easy he's throwing a bunch of pitches and this A B hasn't been any different definitely laboring at the moment the three two pitch and he misses again ball four and that's back to back guys now that have reached base via the base on ball coming to the plate now Tyler Wayne he reached on a fielder's choice previously yeah I need to see some solid contact right here certainly don't get the confidence going he's been slumping pretty hard outside target here and he hits it for strike one two men are on with two men out off the plate one ball one strike I'll tell you it's a helpless feeling for a manager or a pitching coach when your pitchers are having a really hard time throwing strikes what are you supposed to do other than keep trying new guys until someone starts attacking his own high in the air in the shallow left center Adam is calls for it makes the catch and that'll retire the side a couple of walks but no damage we're back with more on a Sunday afternoon following this Tommy Kainley takes over to start the sixth inning on the mound half of the sixth about to get started and at the plate will be the speedy outfielder Kevin Keermeyer things not looking very good so far in this one but we're still in the middle innings they're down by a couple of times and this would be the right place in the right time to get something going the last thing they want to do is to try to come from behind and win this one in the eighth or ninth inning Tuckman has him played perfectly as he puts it away for outnumber one now that designated hitter Jose Martínez for the plate now for the raise is the DH Jose Martinez he's 0 for 2 in the ballgame so far set here it comes right hander against right hander as this is a ball one and all Kainley is one of those guys that just seems to be at his best under pressure runners in scoring position tight game tough hitters at the plate that's when he's at his best one of the keys Matty Vita being a good reliever is being able to pitch out of trouble trouble that's created by the pitchers before you or sometimes you even have some mess that you put on yourself hey regardless if it's a mess that he's inherited or one that he's created for himself this guy makes good pitches when the game's on the line and here's a ball out towards straight away center field Gardner is there to God so two outs now in the Tampa Bay 6 and Austin Meadows will be the next to bat he's ready here's the first offering hey a two on walk right here would be the time running the plate even though it's early on you got a guy on deck that has a lot of pop the 1 0 some action out in the bullpen couple of right handers starting to loosen up three and oh now I wouldn't be surprised if he had the green light here matter of fact I know he's got the green light here he's looking for something set or cut and he's looking to do down and that one's taken outside for a ball we walked him so no one two three ending here they've got themselves a two out base runner now well they were obviously pitching around him there and I don't know blame them with the bases empty and two outs and a hitter of this caliber at the plate makes somebody else beat you up next to the raise Hunter Renfro man at first after the two out walk on the stretch here's the pitch too much bite on the breaking ball that time is it's well off the outside good zip on that one as he just throws it by him for strike one one one home might have been taking all the way right there that pitch couldn't have split the strike zone any better and you can bet he wants that one back at the plate fouled away lucky he got a piece right there he was definitely laid on that pitch after seeing a previous off speed pitch another one to delivery just a bit high with the fastball but didn't get the call over to the bag and the runner back safely Meadows the runner at first with two gone hard hit toward the hole and that finds its way through for a base hit he looked a little bit out in front right there but he's able to pull that ground ball through the hole for a single young beyond the ads there's a high pop up Torres waits on it fair to say oh my goodness these folks are not headed for a career on Broadway more to come on the show Sunday baseball after this the back to the top of the Yankee order digging in gardener he'll try to follow up the double in his last act bad with another big hit right here ready to deliver here's the first pitch fastball off the plate away it's ball one good fastball as he gets the swing and a miss I think it's about time to choke up on that bat and get that foot down he's awfully tardy right now two balls in a strike down to the Yankees leadoff man fastball take in but that gets the zone for a strike two balls two strikes a crucial count for both pitcher and hitter so Dan what was your approach on the mound in that county is still pitch for the strikeout here action pitch right here to do the last thing you want to do is to fall behind the count three two fouls this one off this is swung on and missed his gardeners a strikeout victim one away well you got to love a live young arm he's got an electric fastball if he can learn to harness that and work in his solid secondary stuff he's going to have a really nice career on the mound not everyone is gifted with a fastball like that to the plate now Aaron judge as the first pitch to him's a change up that can't find the zone it's ball one he's two for three and looking for more here swing and a miss as he ramps up on the fastball one and one taken off the outside as the breaking ball couldn't catch the corner we're in the sixth inning now of a quarter two ball game two and two play this picture better be careful right here my man at the plate is not trying to push something to the opposite field he takes strike three called on the fastball couldn't pull the trigger in there are two away this has not been a weekend to remember for him he's just been completely lost at the plate flailing all over the place now that's his sixth strikeout of the series they really got him figured out the box Jean-Carlo Stanton yes he'll take a look at ball one 0 4 2 for him to this point but the tardy on that swing as it's well wide at first bases are empty here with two men out on the third baseline but a foul ball one and two now looking to set down the side on strikes here it comes and he struck out again that's the third time he's gone down on strikes in this one so the yanks go one two three but they still eat this one four to two Louis Sessa is on the pitch from the bullpen now to start any number seven and looking for more Brandon Lowe comes in one for two with that home run he hit earlier and in that last at bat it makes you think this guy might have went up there looking for the breaking ball because he's certainly got a breaking ball and he didn't miss it hit it right on the screws fastball in there for a cold strike time run stands on deck but it will only matter if the guy in the box can get on base yeah and that has to be his mentality at the plate right now man he can't be the hero so he needs to do what he can to give the guy behind him a chance to be the guy to wind up and the O2 pitch this is on the ground over to first and he'll take it to the bag himself for the out with the plate G-man joint he got on top of one and was a ground out victim last time and field shifted well to the right here's the first pitch fouled off seventh inning here at the ballpark for to our score lays off the slider and it's one and one one and two now now here's the pitch couldn't pull the trigger and there are two away well we've seen some really good pitching from these guys in this one the bullpen has looked sharp and it backed up a nice effort turned in by the starter these days pitching has become a full staff effort and I've been impressed with the job these guys have done so far at the plate now will he a dumbest and this is hit hard to the right side foul to the wind up here comes the O and one breaking ball below the zone that's ball one past meetings against Louis Sessa just a one for 12 career line high in the air out to center field Gardner is there he makes the play and that'll end the inning down in order go the Rays they trail it here four to two has role it's the call from the pen to take over on the mound and start the home seven another shot now Gary Sanchez a hit in two tries so far Gary comes set here's the nothing and nothing pitch fastball laid off well below the knees roll was known as a short relief specialist a guy who came in got one or two big outs but with the new pace of play rules they're forcing a change for this right hander one in one the count one and two to the Yankees catcher ready on one and two maybe trying to back him up a bit there with the fastball when you've got a guy that throws a good two scene fastball you have to be ready for him to try to run it inside and jam you a good job to lay off that one but I wouldn't be surprised if we see it again to two is a wave and a miss he struck him out it's not that easy to make a good hitter look that bad but that's what happens when you can bring that fastball and write it in on the inner half of the plate right there you can get some pretty ugly swings the plate Torres as he would look at a first pitch fastball for ball one he could really use a knock here 0 for three in the game so far he watches one miss outside 2 and 0 now it's a lot easier to hit when you're putting yourself in good hitters counts this guy's done a great job not swinging at pitchers pitches and when he's getting a ball in his own he's getting a barrel to it he's been hot lately and wow that looked to be well inside but it's a called strike 2 and 1 now on out nobody on ball misses upstairs is yet moves things to 3 and 1 now every base runner in a close game like this really matters so you can afford to be giving out free passes this late there's all for now that might talk for his career in this matchup he's one for two he set and the pitch no row 33 years old was selected in the first round back in 2005 yeah he has turned himself into a really nice ball player I wouldn't put him on a superstar level but you know what they didn't miss with this pick either you go into high rounds and you carve out a career the way this guy has nice pick 2 and 0 to the Yankees left fielder Torres the runner at first with one gun in the inning doing one after the foul ball there the pitch took a good cut that time it comes up empty 2 and 2 hey you know the pitcher right now he's looking for that best friend that double play ball this is where you have to really be disciplined at the plate and make sure that you get a pitch that's above the knees that you can get in the air 2 2 pitch is found away working for the punch out and the offering got him and that's the third time we've written a K next to his name in this one well that's just a quality pitch right there location was excellent because if it's put in play there's a good chance it's on the ground for a double play and hey it's strikeout always works too so now to the plate Giorge Shella and she'll go after the first pitch to him and comes up empty at strike one one for two in the ball game thus far up and in keeping him honest one and one awfully confused up there right now it's one and two see guys he is human occasionally an ugly swing right there he's having a monster season so I'm going to give him a free pass and a slider runs away from him there and the count levels at two and two a doubled up on breaking balls there outside now might be the time to bust that fastball in two two and now this ball is lifted in the air down the right field line but this will get back into the seats so the count holds at two and two on the belt the pitch here's one that misses inside and the counts run full now three and two while these guys are really grinding out their bats in this one they're not making any outs easy to get and that of course is having a huge impact on the pitch count we ground her down the first baseline but this will get foul so they'll do it again three and two their full count pitch home lofted in the air out toward right center and Meadows makes the catch for route number three Yanks leave one as they can't add to their four to two lead Adam Otavino has been summoned from the bullpen as he'll do his job at the eighth number zero better to begin the eighth and next will be the power hitting catcher Mike Sanino even though we're moving into the back end of this game they're only down by a couple runs you know that old slogan a bloop in a blast they could certainly use that right now the first pitch to him this is in the air to left left and he's got a really good opening chase he makes the catch a great effort to get there and record the first out of the inning stepping in Kevin Keermire is head to head numbers against Adam Otavino he's hit listen free at bats to catch him napping but he missed the bunt attempt strike one pitch on the way to swung on and miss two are quickly retired to start any number eight that's not an at bat he or his hitting coach are going to be happy with that all it's bad enough to go down in three pitches but none of them were even in the strike zone that's a bad look into the box now Jose Martinez as the first pitch to him is in there for recalled strike one the 0 1 pitch and it's fouled away I don't know what to he misses with the fastball getting late for to our score as we play the eighth inning that here's the two two boy went from being in the driver's seat to now being in some trouble had to count 0 and 2 started nipping at the corners and next thing you know this count stands at three and two he struck him out the third time he's fanned in the game raise go in order one two three still down by a count of four to two common Pochet is on to pitch out of the bullpen in the bottom half of the eighth number 38 calling Pochet striding in once again look boy it was a walk in his last trip the first base made first delivery to him on the way under no delivery and that swung on and missed on a pitch down one and one two balls and a strike to the Yankees first baseman and he can't catch the corner here so he's behind three and one it's been a great job so far by the eight hole hitter if he finds a way to get on base this could spell for a huge and this is taken here for ball four so the leadoff man's on base to kick off the home eighth now with the play Tyler way he's hit listen three at bats to this point first pitch on its way no one no one will track it down void on at first nobody out and he lays off this one down and in for ball two point not exactly what you'd like as a pitcher one of the keys is to minimize your pitches attack the strike zone early a lot of deep counts and working himself into a lot of trouble not cheated on that one it's two and two that's exactly the pitch you don't want to be chasing in these situations he's going to keep that ball down below the hollow of the knee try and get you to ground into a double play you have to set your sights at least belt high there's a fastball well off the plate for a ball left handed batter waiting on deck though there's a good shot he might get pulled back a runner at first with no outs here smoked on the ground up the middle and there's his first base hit in this one here's Brett Gardner now as he gets a good curveball here to start the at bat it's strike one it's been a two for four effort for him so far in the ball game a fastball just off the black and it's even at one like the fastball got away from him there it's ball to a lots of guys get too aggressive in a spot like this but he's done a nice job of gaining some count leverage look for him to put the ball and play hard lifted in the air to center field Kiermeyer is there and he has it for the first out so it's a tight spot here first and second one man out and that'll bring up the former American League rookie of the year big Aaron judge from the stretch don't be shocked if he doesn't go right back to that splitter again he's looking for a double play and that pitch certainly has enough depth on it to get him a ground ball and a shot hit down the corner and it'll fade just at the end and winds up a long foul ball sent back up the middle there's one relay to first in time and just like that this side is retired one left for the Yankees but they still lead this one four to two the oldest Chapman comes on from the pen hoping to finish this one off here in the top of the ninth line against Chapman he's over four off we go in the ninth as the first pitch misses for ball one all in a strike Chapman nicknamed the missile for obvious reasons he's an 11 year vet at the major league level so he certainly puts together a nice career in professional baseball set here comes the one one and he wasn't going to hit that one with an or the strikeout and there's one gone another strikeout for him on the mound and boy is it fun to watch him go about his business God no doubt man he's one of my favorites mostly because of his stuff you know he can absolutely dominate on any given day because of what he offers up there it's just nasty there aren't many hitters that like to see this guy on the mound standing in now Hunter Renfro as the first pitch to him is off the plate for a ball one and oh a hidden two tries for him so far but a foul ball one and two the count now a swing and a miss he offered at a ball way outside the strike zone for out number two well you have to feel pretty confident about the way this one's going to end up as a manager two hitters two strikeouts from the closer there's not a whole lot more he can do to instill confidence that he's going to wrap this thing up without any problem into the box now Yandy Diaz he comes to the plate as the last chance for his side two out here in the ninth ready with the first pitch here it comes now a swing and he pops him up and this should do it he brings it in and the Yankees have taken the rubber match of this three game set as this ball game is over man facing Chapman is not for the faint of heart as he unleashes fireball after fireball gets the final out here and another save what a weapon Chapman is four to two the final score today New York took the lead in the fourth and held on until the end James Paxton burns the win his second Charlie Morton couldn't escape the fourth inning as he slapped with the loss a oldest Chapman wraps it up for the save his fifteenth of the campaign so that just about does it for Mark DeRosa Dan please act Heidi Watney and our entire crew on Matt Vaskers and you've been watching MLB the show