Yankees back on track; Toronto & Tampa next

The New York Yankees are looking like the team we all know and love. After a dismal 9-17 start, not only has the offense been showing some life and energy, but it seems the pitching has also.The team travelled over to Chase Field to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks, on what would be a three game series. Game one was the major league debut for 24-year-old Chad Green. Unfortunately for Green, who the Yankees acquired as a piece in the Justin Wilson trade, he would only last 4 innings giving up 8 hits and 4 earned runs. As for the Yankees, they were able to rack up 8 hits but, it wasn’t enough. A home run from both Paul Goldschmidt, and Jake Lamb were all the D-Backs needed in a 12-2 loss for New York.Game two of the series, was a 5-3 loss. D-backs starter Zack Greinke, who hasn’t been living up to the 6-year $206.5 million dollar contract that he got last offseason, at least showed some positive signs as he was able to go for seven strong innings, striking out seven. Yankees starter, Michael Pineda struggled once again giving up five runs, and nine hits. Pineda, did have nine strikeouts, however, but it didn’t matter in the long run.Everything went right for the Yankees for game three. To start, starter Nathan Eovaldi was purely dominant. After Eovaldi gave up a hit in the first, which eventually led to a run, he didn’t look back. He wouldn’t allow a single hit for the remainder of the game, which eventually led to the “big three” closing it all out. As for the hitting, it was good as can be. The team would end up with eleven hits. Outfielders, Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury would combine to go 5-8 with two walks and three rbis. The Bombers, would avoid getting swept, winning 4-2.After their stay in Arizona, the team would stay on the west coast for a four game series against the Oakland Athletics. The two teams faced earlier in the year and the A’s ended up with a sweep.The Yankees would start the series with a 4-1 victory. Starter, Ivan Nova had another solid outing, going for six innings and giving up just four hits and a run. The offense pulled out ten hits and got four runs. Outfielder Carlos Beltran had a nice day at the plate getting two hits, and three of the team’s RBI’s.Game two was C.C. Sabathia’s return from the disabled list and boy was he good. He would go for 6 innings, giving up just one run, three hits, and getting himself eight strikeouts. The offensive fire power would continue as the Yankees would plate 13 hits, their third straight game with ten or more hits. Three of them going to once again number 36, Carlos Beltran. The Yankees would win this one 8-3.Game three was another victory this time by the score of 5-1. Starting pitcher, Masahiro Tanaka, was able to redeem himself after recent struggles, as he went for seven strong innings, giving up a run on just five hits. Despite snapping their streak of ten or more hits, the offense was still good enough in a Yankees win.The Yankees would then complete the four game sweep, winning the last game 5-4. Like Tanaka, Michael Pineda was able to find some life after a tough slump. Despite, giving up three runs he was able to last six innings before giving way to the “big three”. Pineda would get his first win since April 6th and his second of the season.It was a very solid week for the New York Yankees, they took advantage of their road trip going 5-2. The team went from last place in the AL East division to third. Batter of the Week:Carlos BeltranGM – 7AVG- .407AB – 27H – 11BB – 0HR – 1RBI – 9Pitcher of the Week:Aroldis ChapmanGM – 3IP – 3.0H – 1ER – 0BB – 0SO – 4SV – 3The Yankees will hope to continue their way up the AL East as they will take on division rivals in the Toronto Blue Jays at home and the Tampa Bay Rays on the road. This week is certainly important for the team because it really can give the Yankees some separation if they do well.Pitching Matchups vs. Toronto:Game #1:Nathan Eovaldi (4-2) vs. R.A. Dickey (2-5)Game #2:Ivan Nova (3-1) vs. Marco Estrada (1-2)Game #3:C.C. Sabathia (3-2) vs. Aaron Sanchez (4-1)Pitching Matchups vs. Tampa Bay:Game #1:Masahiro Tanaka (2-0) vs. Chris Archer (3-5)Game #2:Michael Pineda (2-5) vs. Matt Moore (1-3)Game #3:Nathan Eovaldi (4-2) vs. Jake Odorizzi (1-2)New York Yankee Weekly Report by David Bieber for FingerLakes1.com