CC and the Captain End Skid
CC and the Captain sounds like a lame ’70’s singing duo, but when you are talking about the Yankees roster, it’s more like Batman & Robin, the Dynamic Duo. CC Sabathia pitched a strong 8 innings and Yankees captain Derek Jeter had his third straight 3-hit game in the Yankees 7-2 win over the Oakland A’s last night. The victory snapped a 2-game losing streak.
One night after being blanked by former teammate Brett Tomko and the A’s pen, the Yankees took advantage of a sloppy Oakland team, which committed four errors. The game was tied 2-2 in the 6th when lefty sidewinder Scott Marshall replaced the A’s starter, NJ native Vin Mazzaro. Nick Swisher reached on a 1-out double and advanced to 3rd on catcher Kurt Suzuki’s passed ball. Marshall then hit Melky Cabrera, who lost his balance and tumbled over Suzuki. The play epitomized the evening’s sloppy performance.
Jeter singled through the left side to put the Yankees on top 3-2 and Johnny Damon blooped an RBI double to left for another run. Santiago Casilla replaced Marshall and after intentionally walking Mark Teixeira, walked Alex Rodriguez to force in the inning’s 3rd run. The Yankees added another pair of runs on a Hideki Matsui single and a sac fly by Jorge Posada.
Sabathia gave up early solo home runs to Suzuki and rookie Tommy Everidge, but got stronger as the game went on. He entered the evening just 1-4, 7.12 at the Oakland Coliseum, but other than a jam in the 4th, breezed through the rest of the evening. He allowed just 5 hits, walked 1 and struck out 8 in picking up his 14th win. Sabathia has won all four of his starts in August and posted a 2.35 ERA.
Jeter has been red hot at the hot plate. Last night’s performance gave him five 3-hit games in the last 9 games played and he is hitting .556 (20-36) during that stretch. The hot streak has jumped his overall batting average 15 points to .330.
There were some bad feelings in the 1st inning of the game, but no bench clearing. Mazzaro hit A-Rod in the left arm above the elbow, basically the same spot he was hit by the Blue Jays‘ Shawnm Camp. Sabathia then threw behind Suzuki’s back in retaliation. Both teams were warned, and unfortunately for Sabathia, Suzuki got the last laugh by hitting his 10th home run of the season.
Game Notes
Hideki Matsui was back in the lineup sooner than expected after getting fluid drained from his knee. He doesn’t expect any more problems the rest of the season.
Chad Gaudin makes his first start as a Yankees and faces one of his former teams, in Oakland, in tonight’s rubber game of the series. He’ll be opposed by rookie left-hander Brett Anderson, whom the Yankees beat 8-3 on July 24 at the Stadium.
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