Yankees Roll O’s
Written for Baseball DigestOn opening day in Baltimore, CC Sabathia was horrible and the Orioles clobbered the Yankees 10-5. So much for starting fresh. But since then the Yankees have lost less games than the Orioles have won and Sabathia is the AL’s leading winner with 16 victories. That’s because he threw a solid 7 innings last night and his teammates busted open a close game late for a 10-2 win. It was the 10th straight time the Yankees have beaten the O’s this season.
After losing 2 of 3 in that season opening series and having Mark Teixeira treated as if he were a serial killer, the Yankees couldn’t have been too anxious to return to Camden Yards. But after completing a 3-game sweep last night, they probably never want to leave.
Tied 1-1 in the 7th inning, Kam Mickolio walked Johnny Damon to start the inning and Nick Swisher (Mr. Camden Yards) followed with a double. Possibly thinking that he didn’t want his youngster having to throw strikes with the bases loaded,O’s manager Dave Trembley elected to pitch to Alex Rodriguez and brought the infield in. Oops. A-Rod laced a 2-run single to center to put the Yankees on top for good, 3-1. It was also the 2,500th hit of A-Rod’s career.
Sabathia had given up a pair of hits and a sac fly to Nick Markakis in the 1st as the O’s jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Eric Hinske tied the game in the 3rd with a solo home run and Sabathia got stronger as the game went on. He scattered five hits over the next six innings, walked one and struck out 9. Since his last loss on July 28, the big man is 5-0 in six starts, with 14 earned runs allowed in 51.1 innings pitched (2.45 ERA).
Brian Bruney’s continued ineffectiveness allowed the O’s to cut the lead to 3-2 in the 8th before Phil Coke and Phil Hughes stemmed the tide. The Yankees then singled the O’s to death in the 9th to break things open. A-Rod opened the scoring with another 2-run single, and Hideki Matsui, Melky Cabrera, Jose Molina, Derek Jeter, and Damon each delivered run producing singles.
No more trips to Camden Yards for the, now, disappointed Yankees and the fans in attendance, the majority of which were rooting for the Bombers.
Game Notes
A-Rod extended his hitting streak to 11 games. Derek Jeter extended his modest streak to 6 games and moved within 8 hits of Lou Gehrig’s franchise record. Robinson Cano also has a 6-game streak in which he is 12-23 (.522). He’s also driven in 13 runs in the last 10 games.
Mariano Rivera was unavailable due to a sore groin. Phil Hughes notched his 2nd save, getting the final four outs.
Mark Teixeira got a much deserved night off.
The Yankees travel to Toronto to begin a 4-game series with the Blue Jays this evening. Chad Gaudin will get the start tonight as Sergio Mitre is still too sore from being hit by a line drive on his right forearm. Left-hander Ricky Romero goes for the Blue Jays.
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