The New York Yankees made their way to O.co Coliseum for a four game series to face the Oakland Athletics. The Yankees entered the second half of their West Coast road trip having lost two of three in Arizona. Meanwhile, the Athletics came into the series with a four game winning streak. It is time to recap the four game series.

Game 1: Graveman vs. Nova

Kendall Graveman, who was 1-5 entering the game, has recently had his name mentioned as a potential candidate to be sent down to the Minor Leagues to make room for starting pitcher Henderson Alvarez. This is because he has options remaining. However, with the performance Graveman gave on Thursday night, the Athletics might have to reconsider the thought.

Graveman quickly found himself in a jam as Jacoby Ellsbury lead off the game with a hit to left field. A force out at second led to Brett Gardner reaching first base on an overturned call that prevented a double play. Gardner then stole second base to put himself in scoring position with just one out. But, Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann, the following hitters, were unable to capitalize on an RBI opportunity as Graveman struck out the hitters to end the inning.

It was not until the third inning when the first run was scored by the Yankees when Beltran doubled to left field. This allowed the speedy Gardner to score from first base. The Athletics were able to earn that run back in the bottom of the fourth inning with a Josh Reddick solo home run to right center field.

Graveman was taken out of the game with two outs in the fifth inning after giving up an RBI double to right fielder Aaron Hicks. Graveman’s line: 5.2 IP 8 H 2 ER 3 BB 5 Ks.

Yankees pitcher Ivan Nova had a great performance this game in which he only allowed one run, on just four hits, in six innings. The Yankees then turned to their strong back end of the bullpen as Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller, and Aroldis Chapman pitched one inning each with a combined five strikeouts.

The Yankees added on two more insurance runs in the ninth inning with a home run by designated hitter Beltran. The Athletics were unable to recover and dropped the first game of the series by losing 4-1.

An important takeaway from this game is that Josh Reddick injured his left thumb while sliding head first into second base. This resulted with Reddick being placed on the 15 day disabled list.

Game 2: Gray vs. Sabathia

Following his stellar 2015 performance, which included an All Star appearance, Sonny Gray has struggled to return to his Cy Young caliber form.

The Athletics got on the scoreboard first courtesy of a Matt McBride single to left field. This hit allowed Billy Butler to score from second base. However, the Athletics failed to add on more runs this inning which resulted in two runners in scoring position being stranded to end the inning.

Gray allowed three hits and two walks through the first three innings. However, the Yankees were unable to convert these base runners into runs.

The Yankees’ bats came alive in the top of the fourth inning while capitalizing on the Athletics mistakes. With one out, Gray allowed a walk to Aaron Hicks. Then, shortstop Didi Gregorius singled to right field which advanced Hicks to third base. Ronald Torreyes followed up with a triple to left field, driving in Gregorius and Hicks. After a catcher interference call that allowed Jacoby Ellsbury to reach to first base, Gray threw a wild pitch to Brett Gardner that led to Torreyes scoring from third. Carlos Beltran came up to plate next and drove in two more runs for the Yankees on a double to center field. Following this at bat, Bob Melvin made the decision to end Gray’s night early in favor of reliever Ryan Dull.

Beltran continued his hot streak this series with another double, this time off of Dull, earning him his sixth RBI in just two games.

Through six strong innings, Bay Area native CC Sabathia powered through the Athletics lineup in his first start back from the disabled list. Sabathia only allowed three hits, one earned run, and one walk while striking out eight batters.

The Athletics were able to add one run in the seventh inning, courtesy of a double from Coco Crisp.

However, Ellsbury was able to add to the Yankees’ lead with a triple that brought in two more runs.

Unfortunately, the Athletics late push in the ninth inning, which included a Billy Burns triple and run scored, was not enough to overcome the large deficit.

Yankees win 8-3

Game 3: Manaea vs. Tanaka

Rookie pitcher Sean Manaea made his fifth start of the season; coming off his best start against the Texas Rangers where he only allowed one run through 6.2 innings. However, in his first three starts, Manaea struggled as he allowed 16 earned runs through 12.2 innings pitched.

Through the first three innings, Manaea did not allow a base runner as he breezed through the first nine Yankee hitters.

Unfortunately, Manaea’s perfect game was broken up due to a leadoff walk to Jacoby Ellsbury. Starlin Castro followed up with a single that moved Ellsbury to second base. Then, Manaea allowed another walk to the next batter: Mark Teixeira. With the bases loaded, Carlos Beltran drove in his seventh run of the series with a single to left field. After third baseman Chase Headley flied out to center, Aaron Hicks brought in one more run with his sacrifice fly to left fielder Khris Davis. The final two runs of this inning came by way of a double from right fielder Rob Refsnyder.

In the fifth inning, the Athletics managed to put one run on the board with a sacrifice fly by Danny Valencia. However, this was the only run driven in by the Athletics this game.

The standout performance in this game was by Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. Through seven innings, Tanaka only allowed one earned run, with just five hits and 4 strikeouts.

The Yankees took their third straight game of the series, winning 5-1.

In addition to this loss for the Athletics, they received some bad news regarding Khris Davis. In the fourth inning, Davis felt some tightness in his right forearm after a throw he made to home plate. During a post game interview, manager Bob Melvin said Davis is currently listed as day to day.

Game 4: Hahn vs. Pineda

Before the final game of the series, the Athletics were forced to use the disabled list once again. The team placed starting pitcher Sonny Gray on the 15 day disabled list due to a strained right trapezius. Reliever Daniel Coulombe was called up to take the vacant roster spot.

Starting pitcher Jesse Hahn has bounced around between AAA and the major leagues this season. In his prior three starts, Hahn had a record of 1-1 with an ERA of 3.37 and a WHIP of 1.5.

The Athletics scored quickly in the first, thanks to Billy Burns. With one out, Burns singled to right field. Then, as Stephen Vogt was at bat, Burns stole both second and third base. Vogt was able to bring in Burns with a ground out to third base.

The Yankees responded in the next half inning with a solo home run by Brian McCann. Jacoby Ellsbury added another run with his home run to right center field in the third inning.

During the bottom of the fifth inning, Vogt helped the Athletics take the lead once again with an RBI double that brought in Jake Smolinski and Billy Burns.

However, the Yankees were able to get those two runs back in the next half inning after the Athletics substituted Jesse Hahn for relief pitcher John Axford. The first run was driven in by a Mark Teixeira single. The next run came from a Starlin Castro single that brought in Carlos Beltran from second base.

Beltran continued his hot streak this series by driving in an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning off of Sean Doolittle. He finished the series with nine hits and eight RBIs.

Although the Athletics manufactured a run in the bottom of the eighth, a Billy Butler RBI fielder’s choice, it was not enough for the Athletics to take the final game of the series.

Yankees win 5-4 to complete the four game sweep of the Athletics

The Oakland Athletics will make a quick trip up north to face the Seattle Mariners for a three game series. The New York Yankees will have a travel day on Monday. They return home to face the Toronto Blue Jays for a three game series before they head back on the road.

Follow @ACAllAmericans for quality, up-to-date sports reporting.