A pair of American League teams at opposite ends of the standings take the field as they continue a series out on the west coast. The New York Yankees are on the road as they play the third game of a four-game set with the Oakland A’s Saturday night. In the opening game of the series on Wednesday night, the Yankees got their bats going early and often en route to an easy 13-4 victory to draw first blood in the series. This article was published prior to the conclusion of the second game of this four-game set at the RingCentral Coliseum Friday night.
New York ran their win streak to four as their bats broke out of a nearly month-long slumber to pound Oakland in the opening game of the series. The Yankees entered Friday leading the AL East by 7.5 games over the Rays so they are still in good position in the playoff picture. On Thursday night, New York got three hits each from Andrew Benintendi (RBI), Josh Donaldson (four runs, three RBI) and Oswaldo Cabrera (run, RBI) to pace a 20-hit attack. The offensive barrage was more than enough for Jameson Taillon (12-4), who threw six innings, allowing one run on six hits with no walks and two strikeouts.
Domingo German is on the mound for his eighth start of the season for the Yankees in this contest. He comes in 2-2 with a 3.89 ERA, a 1.269 WHIP, nine walks and 26 strikeouts over 34.2 innings of work this season. German earned the win in his last start, which came at home against the Mets Monday night. He threw 6.1 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits with no walks and three strikeouts in a game the Yankees won 4-2. In his last three starts, German is 1-0 with a 2.65 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, three walks and 13 strikeouts over 17 innings of work. German makes his sixth career appearance and fifth start against the A’s in this contest. He comes in 0-1 with a 6.56 ERA, a 1.80 WHIP, 13 walks and 25 strikeouts over 23.1 innings of work against them. German is 0-1 with a 4.82 ERA, a 1.821 WHIP, five walks and 13 strikeouts over 9.1 innings in two career appearances, one start, at the RingCentral Coliseum.