Why you don’t say Yankees’ J.A. Happ’s name like that

Yankees starting pitcher J.A. Happ threw seven scoreless innings, giving up just one hit, in a 4-1 win over the Rays at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 (8/14/18). Austin Romine hit his 8th home run of the season, as the Yankees keep pace with the first-place Boston Red Sox, who beat the Phillies, 2-1, on Tuesday to maintain a 10-game lead in the American League East.

Watch video

NEW YORK — It’s not J.A. It’s Jay.

Why? That’s not complicated, either.

It’s understandable if you had no idea you were pronouncing J.A. Happ‘s name wrong after his marvelous start in a 4-1 win over the Rays at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday.

That’s because it’s pronounced Jay, not J.A.

“It’s written as initials for James Anthony and Anthony’s my middle name but growing up, I just always went by Jay,” he said.

“My parents called me Jay. I get the confusion. If I didn’t know any better, I would say J.A., too. But I just always went by Jay. So that’s how I prefer it.”

Severino’s problem isn’t what you think

No matter how you say it, Happ has been great since the Yankees acquired him from the Blue Jays before the trade deadline. And Tuesday was yet another example.

Happ allowed just one hit — a soft fly ball — while striking out four and walking four.

He’s 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA in three starts as a Yankee, all in the Bronx.

“He was great,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Needed it. Needed him to give us some innings and to go out there and give us seven really — what did he end up with four walks? Really, it wasn’t a lack of command. It was good at-bats, long at-bats where the 3-2 counts, they kind of won. They were able to take a couple of close pitches. Other than that is was a clinic. I thought his command was good. Just really working both sides of the plate. Great rhythm, great pace to it. Fun to sit over there and watch.”

Boone added, “He’s really good, first and foremost. I don’t want to get caught up in he’s a pro, he’s a vet. He’s really good and it’s been evident since we got him, obviously, and what he’s been able to do in this league now for a long time and in this division for the last couple of years. But you saw a guy really in command of his pitches, his emotions, the ability to really just get back on the mound and repeat his delivery so well. Just a real quality outing from a good pitcher.”

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.