Yanks Go Yard Recap: Sabathia Stops New York Yankees Five Game Skid

There are certain nights when teams need their ace to pitch like an ace. After losing five in a row, the Yankees need CC Sabathia to pitch like his usual self. Sabathia earned his first win in a little over a month, going 7.1 innings, while striking out 10, as the Yankees beat the Red Sox in the series opener 4-1. Oh yeah, they also got Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis back in the lineup. That helps too.

May 31, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher

(52) pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Tex kicked off a rally in the second with a walk. Vernon Wells followed that with a double to left. Jayson Nix singled to bring home Teixeira. After a strikeout, Ichiro Suzuki‘s RBI single made it 2-0.  The Yankees added to it in the fifth off Jon Lester. Lester hit David Adams with a pitch. Ichiro followed with a comebacker that Lester made a throw to second to get Adams out on a close play. Joe Girardi didn’t agree with the call and got ejected. Chris Stewart walked. After a strikeout, Youkilis singled to left to bring in Ichiro, but Stewart was thrown out at third to end the inning.

The Red Sox got their lone run in the seventh. Dustin Pedroia led off the inning with a double, and two batters later, Mike Napoli drove him in with a double of his own to make it 3-1. The Yanks got some insurance in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, Suzuki and Stewart each singled to knock Lester out of the game. Andrew Miller came in and gave up a single to Brett Gardner.

YGY Player Of The Game: Sabathia

The series continues tonight with Felix Doubront and Phil Hughes facing off at 7:15

Notes: To make room for Youkilis and Teixeira, Ivan Nova and Vidal Nuno were sent to AAA. The Yankees will have another move to make Monday when Andy Pettitte returns. Gardner led off with a walk. It was the Yankees first walk since Monday, over 100 plate appearance. Derek Jeter played catch for the third straight day.