who they really are and what theyre about. I

BOSTON -- When the New York Yankees last visited Fenway Park in early August, they were bidding farewell to Alex Rodriguez and their playoffs hopes appeared slim to none.One month later, a youth movement has brought them within four games of the American League East-leading Boston Red Sox and into another late-season showdown with their bitter rival.Boston hosts New York in the opener of a four-game weekend set Thursday night.I probably wouldve said this is where we should be, said New York manager Joe Girardi, who was touting his teams playoff chances even when they trailed by 6 1/2 games in the AL East on the last day of their August trip to Boston.I think we were extremely frustrated with where we were as of July 31, and I told you I expected this club to continue to compete at a high level and win, and thats what theyve done.New York (77-68) has gone 19-12 since taking the rubber match of their three-game set at Fenway Park on Aug. 11, and the Yankees are only two games out of the second AL wild-card spot.Theyve gone through about as much turnover as probably anyone, Red Sox manager John Farrell said. Theyve got good quality young players that theyve been able to turn to that have certainly injected a lot of life into that club.Gary Sanchez has been at the forefront of the Yankees comeback. The 23-year-old hit his first career homer during the August series at Fenway and has launched 13 more since.New York and Boston have played their fair share of meaningful autumn games at Fenway over the years, but this series represents a new chapter in the rivalry.Still, Girardi doesnt anticipate too many hiccups from his youngsters.It could be interesting, Girardi said. Everything so far theyve handled. Are there some tricky things in that ballpark? Yes, but that can affect anyone, so if something happens, Im not going to be surprised. But my expectation is theyll handle it well.As well as they have played of late, the Yankees are limping into Boston after dropping three of their past four games, including a 2-0 defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night.Fortunately for them, the Red Sox (81-64) havent been playing their best baseball either. Boston routed the Baltimore Orioles 12-2 in the opener of a three-game set Monday, but fell 6-3 Tuesday and were blanked 1-0 in the rubber game Wednesday.The Red Sox turn to young southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez (2-7, 4.70 ERA) in Thursdays opener.Rodriguez has been outstanding in limited action against the Yankees this season, going 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in two starts against them.He faced them in the Aug. 11 contest and gave up a run on three hits and a walk while striking out six in a seven-inning no-decision.Rodriguez is 4-1 with a 1.88 ERA in six career starts against New York.Jacoby Ellsbury is batting .294 (5-for-17) with two solo homers off Rodriguez, and Didi Gregorius has hit .353 (6-for-17) with an RBI against him.Masahiro Tanaka (13-4, 3.04 ERA) counters Rodriguez for the Yankees. He has pitched well in two starts against Boston this season, going 1-0 with a 2.13 ERA.Tanaka is 5-2 with a 4.42 ERA in nine career starts against the Red Sox.David Ortiz (5-for-21, .238) and Xander Bogaerts (6-for-25, .240) each have one homer and three RBI off Tanaka. Dustin Pedroia is batting .316 (6-for-19) with a solo homer against him. Kendall Graveman Cubs Jersey . The 25-year-old Japanese star has officially been posted by his club team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles. Xavier Cedeno Cubs Jersey ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter. https://www.cheapcubs.com/940t-mickey-morandini-jersey-cubs.html . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to increase her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament. Adbert Alzolay Jersey .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. Cubs Jerseys 2020 . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. CHICAGO -- White Sox ace Chris Sale?said he felt like he was out on an island for five days. He was back in more comfortable terrain Thursday: on the pitchers mound at Wrigley field. And now Sale is anxious to put his recent controversy to bed.This is what I signed up for, is to play baseball, Sale said Thursday night. So it was nice to get out there and pitch again.Sale, considered the front-runner in this seasons chase for the American League Cy Young Award, overcame early command problems Thursday to hold the Cubs to two runs over six innings. Nevertheless, Sale (14-4) took the loss in the Cubs 3-1 win and missed out on a chance to become the first 15-game winner in the AL this season.I thought he pitched a good game, White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. You know, he had a walk and a hit by pitch that ends up costing us. But he pitched a good game.Of his outing, Sale said, Felt good. First couple, I was knocking the rust off a little bit. [Catcher] Dioner [Navarro] really did a great job of getting me through that.The rust was most evident in one regard: a lack of strikeouts. Even though Sale punched out four Cubs looking, none of those Ks occurred during the first three innings. According to ESPN Stats & Info research, that hadnt happened to Sale in any of his previous 135 career starts.Of course, the focus before, during and after Sales outing was not on his performance on the mound. He returned to the White Sox on Thursday after serving a five-day suspension for a much-publicized incident in which he cut up some throwback jerseys that were to be worn Saturday in a game against Detroit.Sales postgame news conference marked his first time addressing the general media, and although he spoke for 10 minutes, he didnt want to delve into specifics about the incident.Listen guys, I dont want to get too far into it, Sale said. It is what it is. Its in the past. Just look to the future and try to make things right, make things better and win ballgames.Regrets?I regret not being there for my guys. Im a pitcher, called upon every fifth dday.dddddddddddd If I cant go out there for my guys, for the fans, that gets to me, he said.Sale said that while he was away from the team, teammates, former teammates and other players around the league sent him text messages to boost his spirits. The gestures did not go unnoticed.There is a lot of crap that was going on this week, no doubt about it, Sale said. But for them to do what they did today, and the previous four or five days, it says a lot about who they are and how much they care about me.Sale was received warmly in the clubhouse before the game after arriving at Wrigley Field, exchanging hugs with teammates as he made the rounds in the cramped visiting clubhouse at the old ballpark.I have a group of unbelievable guys in there, my teammates, Sale said. I knew who they were before this, but I found out who they really are and what theyre about. I have unbelievable teammates, I really do.Sale said he did not address his teammates as a group before the game but planned to talk with them individually.Get to them on a personal level, Sale said. I want to let them know where my heads at, where my hearts at. And let them know how much I appreciate them.Sales return comes just four days before the trade deadline. His name has come up often, and the uniform controversy added an extra layer of intrigue to the situation. Nevertheless, even with a lot of extra time on his hands, Sale said he paid no attention to the rumor mill.I dont read the newspapers, Sale said. I dont have Twitter. I stay out of all that. That stuff is for other people. Im a pitcher. I get ready to pitch and play baseball.Sale also dismissed suggestions that his relationship with the White Sox front office is irreparable.I think everyone is making a little bit bigger deal of this than it really is, Sale said. Were here to win games. And from this point forward, I think thats our main focus.Im here to win. Im happy exactly where Im at. ' ' '