Sabathia throws one hitter, reduces magic number to one
NEW YORK – The real final examination on CC Sabathia will not come until the second week of October. However, all indications are that he is ready to pass a test that he has struggled several times.
Continuing his torrid string of starts dating back to August, the Yankees prized left-hander dominated the Red Sox lineup, limiting them to one hit over seven strong innings to help trim the magic number to an inevitable AL East title to one in their 3-0 victory in front of 48,809.
The win was the Yankees 99th and for Sabathia, his 19th. He has one more start to go before starting Game 1 of the Division Series at Yankee Stadium on either Wednesday or Thursday.
If he wins on Friday at Tampa Bay, he will gain win number 20 and be a solid challenger to Zack Greinke of the Royals for the American League CY Young award.
Sabathia has been everything the Yankees could have asked for when they opened up their checkbooks and wrote out the amount of $161 million in the winter. Early on, he was dynamite and showing no signs of wearing down despite being among the league leaders in innings pitched. He set down the first 11 Boston hits, four of his first six by strike out. Victor Martinez became the first Red Sox hitter to reach base in the game when he walked.
The only hit allowed by the Yankee ace was Mike Lowell’s single to center to begin the fifth. This would be erased as Sabathia proceeded to strikeout David Ortiz, Rocco Baldelli and Jed Lowrie swinging to end the frame.
Red Sox starter Daisuke Matzusaka was able to match Sabathia zero for zero for the first five innings. The Yankees had several scoring opportunities in the second, third and fourth innings, but were unable to push across a run with two outs.
In the fifth, the offense had their greatest chance to break the tie. Derek Jeter reached on an infield single to begin the inning, and both Johnny Damon and Mark Teixeira walked to load the bases with no one out.
NEW YORK – The real final examination on CC Sabathia will not come until the second week of October. However, all indications are that he is ready to pass a test that he has struggled several times.
Continuing his torrid string of starts dating back to August, the Yankees prized left-hander dominated the Red Sox lineup, limiting them to one hit over seven strong innings to help trim the magic number to an inevitable AL East title to one in their 3-0 victory in front of 48,809.
The win was the Yankees 99th and for Sabathia, his 19th. He has one more start to go before starting Game 1 of the Division Series at Yankee Stadium on either Wednesday or Thursday.
If he wins on Friday at Tampa Bay, he will gain win number 20 and be a solid challenger to Zack Greinke of the Royals for the American League CY Young award.
Sabathia has been everything the Yankees could have asked for when they opened up their checkbooks and wrote out the amount of $161 million in the winter. Early on, he was dynamite and showing no signs of wearing down despite being among the league leaders in innings pitched. He set down the first 11 Boston hits, four of his first six by strike out. Victor Martinez became the first Red Sox hitter to reach base in the game when he walked.
The only hit allowed by the Yankee ace was Mike Lowell’s single to center to begin the fifth. This would be erased as Sabathia proceeded to strikeout David Ortiz, Rocco Baldelli and Jed Lowrie swinging to end the frame.
Red Sox starter Daisuke Matzusaka was able to match Sabathia zero for zero for the first five innings. The Yankees had several scoring opportunities in the second, third and fourth innings, but were unable to push across a run with two outs.
In the fifth, the offense had their greatest chance to break the tie. Derek Jeter reached on an infield single to begin the inning, and both Johnny Damon and Mark Teixeira walked to load the bases with no one out.
However, the enigmatic Boston righty would battle out of trouble again. He was able to get Alex Rodriguez to hit in to hit into a fielders choice that resulted on Jeter being out at home. Hideki Matsui would foul out to Jason Varitek for the second out, holding the runners. Nick Swisher would foul out to Kevin Youkilis at third to complete the Houdini act and keep the game tied.
After a 1-2-3 inning by Sabathia in the sixth, Robinson Cano would put the Yankees on the board. On a 1-1 pitch, Cano took on off-speed pitch from Matzusaka to the opposite field and homered into the first row of seats to give them a 1-0 lead.
Boston went down quietly in the seventh and that was the end of the big man’s afternoon. Sabathia only needed to throw 96 pitches in his seven spectacular innings of work, giving up just a hit, walking two and striking out eight.
Confident in the bullpen holding the one run lead, Manager Joe Girardi gave the ball to his eighth inning star Phil Hughes, who pitched scoreless inning, striking out two.
In the bottom half, the Yankees would create separation and get some much-needed insurance.
Nick Swisher drew a lead off walk against newly acquired Boston reliever Billy Wagner and Brett Gardner came in to pinch run. Gardner would take second on a wild pitch and eventually steal third with only one out.
Melky Cabrera was hit by a pitch and moved to second when shortstop Chris Woodward dropped a throw at third base when Jose Molina missed a suicide squeeze bunt attempt and Gardner was initially caught in a run down between home and third. Molina would then walk to load the bases as the crowd came to its feet with Jeter coming to the plate. Wagner would strike him out for the second out and making the Yankees 0 for 13 with runners in scoring position.
Johnny Damon would come up and he would work the count to 3-2. Wagner would come inside and Damon was able to slap a single into shallow right field that would drive home both Gardner and Cabrera to increase the Yankees lead to 3-0.
Mariano Rivera came in to get the final three outs. He was able to get the first two on a ground out by Jacoby Ellsbury and striking out Dustin Pedroia. Martinez would extend the game with a single to right, and by hitting Youkilis, it brought the tying run to the plate, but Rivera was able to strike out Mike Lowell swinging to end the ball game.
Sunday afternoon, the Yankees will look to clinch the AL East crown and best record in the American League outright. Andy Pettitte takes the ball for the Bombers and Paul Byrd toes the hill for the Red Sox.
After a 1-2-3 inning by Sabathia in the sixth, Robinson Cano would put the Yankees on the board. On a 1-1 pitch, Cano took on off-speed pitch from Matzusaka to the opposite field and homered into the first row of seats to give them a 1-0 lead.
Boston went down quietly in the seventh and that was the end of the big man’s afternoon. Sabathia only needed to throw 96 pitches in his seven spectacular innings of work, giving up just a hit, walking two and striking out eight.
Confident in the bullpen holding the one run lead, Manager Joe Girardi gave the ball to his eighth inning star Phil Hughes, who pitched scoreless inning, striking out two.
In the bottom half, the Yankees would create separation and get some much-needed insurance.
Nick Swisher drew a lead off walk against newly acquired Boston reliever Billy Wagner and Brett Gardner came in to pinch run. Gardner would take second on a wild pitch and eventually steal third with only one out.
Melky Cabrera was hit by a pitch and moved to second when shortstop Chris Woodward dropped a throw at third base when Jose Molina missed a suicide squeeze bunt attempt and Gardner was initially caught in a run down between home and third. Molina would then walk to load the bases as the crowd came to its feet with Jeter coming to the plate. Wagner would strike him out for the second out and making the Yankees 0 for 13 with runners in scoring position.
Johnny Damon would come up and he would work the count to 3-2. Wagner would come inside and Damon was able to slap a single into shallow right field that would drive home both Gardner and Cabrera to increase the Yankees lead to 3-0.
Mariano Rivera came in to get the final three outs. He was able to get the first two on a ground out by Jacoby Ellsbury and striking out Dustin Pedroia. Martinez would extend the game with a single to right, and by hitting Youkilis, it brought the tying run to the plate, but Rivera was able to strike out Mike Lowell swinging to end the ball game.
Sunday afternoon, the Yankees will look to clinch the AL East crown and best record in the American League outright. Andy Pettitte takes the ball for the Bombers and Paul Byrd toes the hill for the Red Sox.
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