"You wanted the animal..." - Wolverine

CC Dominates Red Sox

August 8th, 2009

Filed Under: Yankees

Tags: Alex Rodriguez • cc sabathia • Clay Buchholz • David Ortiz • Derek Jeter • Mark Teixeira • terry francona • who stole my laptop? • Yankees 8/8 recap • Yankees vs. Red Sox

CC Sabathia was paid $161 million this past off-season to be the ace of the Yankees pitching staff. Thus far, it’s been up and down season for the left-hander. The Yankees posted just a 12-11 record in Sabathia’s starts entering Saturday’s game with the Boston Red Sox, but this afternoon the Yankees certainly got their money’s worth. Sabathia no-hit the Red Sox for 5 1-3 innings and the Yankees won their third straight game of the four game series, 5-0.

Sabathia struck out a season high 9 batters as he earned his 12th win of the season and the Yankees recorded their first back to back home shutout victories of Boston since 1963. Sabathia threw 123 pitches in a 7.2 inning stint before turning things over to Phil Hughes. Jacoby Ellsbury broke up the no-no with a clean single to center field. CC’s only real trouble came in the 7th when he walked Victor Martinez and Kevin Youkilis lined a single to center field. But he struck out David Ortiz and got Mike Lowell to bounce into an inning ending double play.

Clay Buchholz, facing the Yankees for the first time this season, pitched effectively through six innings. The Yankees scored single runs in the 3rd, on a Mark Teixeira RBI single, and 6th innings (a Jose Molina sac fly after an intentional pass was issued to Melky Cabrera) for a 2-0 lead. The Yankees added a run in a wacky 7th inning that saw Red Sox reliever Ramon Ramirez, a former Yankees prospect, ejected from the game.

Ramirez buzzed Teixeira before issuing him a 1-out walk. His very next pitch nailed Alex Rodriguez in the left arm, the same general area that Dustin Pedroia was hit on Thursday night by Mark Melancon. Home plate ump Jim Joyce immediately tossed Ramirez from the game and then explained his positioned to a weary Terry Francona. Both teams had been warned in the 1st inning after Buchholz threw behind A-Rod’s back.

Enrique Gonzalez came on and gave up a single to Hideki Matsui and two batters later walked Nick Swisher to force in a run. Mariano Rivera was readying himself to enter the game in the 9th, but took a seat when Derek Jeter went the opposite way for a 2-run home run and a 5-0 Yankees lead.

Game Notes

The Yankees have held the Red Sox scoreless for 24 innings, the longest streak (according to STATS, LLC) against their hated rivals since a 33 inning stretch in 1952.

The Yankees will attempt their first 4-game home sweep of Boston since 1985 when Andy Pettitte faces Jon Lester Sunday night.

Mark Melancon was demoted to Scranton prior to the game in favor of veteran Josh Towers. But according to the Daily News’ Mark Feinsand, via his Twitter account, it will be only for a day. Towers is expected to be DFA’ed prior to Sunday’s game to make room for Chad Gaudin. To make room on the 40-man roster, Damaso Marte was transferred to the 60-day DL.