Yanks Go Yard Recap: New York Yankees Comeback Falls Short After Sabathia Falters

There has to be something wrong with CC Sabathia. Whether it’s his release point, or he lost too much weight to fast, or his elbow is worse than previously thought, something his going wrong. On Friday, he gave up seven earned runs for the third straight start which put the Yankees in a hole they couldn’t dig out of as they fell to Tampa 10-6.

Jul 9, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia (52) pitches against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of a game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The wheels came off in the second inning, as the Rays batted around. Ben Zobrist led off with a double and went to third on a fly out. Yunel Escobar doubled in Zobrist. After a popout and a walk, Sam Fuld brought home run number two with a single. Desmond Jennings followed with a bunt single that Austin Romine committed an error on to advance the runners and bring in another run. Evan Longoria followed with a two run double. Wil Myers would single in Longoria, but get thrown out going to second.

The Yanks got one back in the third. Brent Lillibridge singled, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on Austin Romine’s single. The Rays would get that run back in the fifth when James Loney would single in Sean Rodriguez.

Adam Warren would relieve CC and gave up a three run bomb to Loney in the seventh.

The Yankees tried to mount a comeback in the final two frames. They got two in the eighth. With one out, Melky Mesa doubled and scored on David Adams‘ double. After newly re-acquired Alfonso Soriano reached on a fielder’s choice, he would score on Chris Stewart‘s double.

In the ninth, with one out, the Yankees loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. Mesa and Adams each singled in a run. Soriano’s groundout would bring in another, but that’s the last run they would get.

YGY Player Of The Game: Loney

Game two of the series is at 1:05 Saturday afternoon. Chris Archer will face Ivan Nova.

Notes: Soriano made a deal with Vernon Wells to get #12 back. Wells now wears 22. Derek Jeter will play a simulated game Saturday and could return to action Sunday.