New York Yankees Recap: Sabathia, Bats Shine in Return

CC Sabathia returned from the disabled list to help the Yankees win their third straight on the road, 8-3 in against the Athletics.

Coming into this game, the Yankees were looking to build on their first two-game road winning streak since April 9th and 12th (there was some rain involved in that). The big story in this game was the return of CC Sabathia from the disabled list. The big lefty had been on the mend since the day after pitching seven brilliant shutout innings on May 4 against the Orioles, and tonight was his first start back. With the bullpen depleted after Girardi inexplicably pulled Ivan Nova after 62 pitches on Thursday night and used the “Big Three” for the second night in a row (he pulled Nathan Eovaldi after just 85 pitches in favor of the trio on Wednesday), the Yankees really needed some depth and quality from Sabathia. The veteran delivered big time on Friday night.

Things started slow, with the Yankee offense once again having a hard time scoring runs off of a struggling pitcher (despite a sterling reputation, Sonny Gray came into this game with a 5.84 ERA). The Yankees threatened in the top of the first, when Brian McCann singled and Carlos Beltran doubled with one out, but they couldn’t get the big hit (or even the big sacrifice out) and failed to score against the Oakland right-hander. A leadoff single by Didi Gregorius went unrewarded in the second, and walks by Jacoby Ellsbury and McCann led to nothing in the third (thanks to another strikeout by Mark Teixeira).

As for Sabathia, he held his own in the early going, showing a little rust in the process but not letting the A’s get a big hit either. He gave up a run on a two-out single by journeyman Matt McBride in the bottom of the second, but stranded two runners. He then stranded two more in the bottom of the third, again bending but not breaking.

The Yankees finally broke through against Gray in the top of the fourth. With one out, Aaron Hicks walked and went to third on a single by Gregorius. That brought up Ronald Torreyes, who hammered a two-run triple past the outstretched glove of Coco Crisp in left-center. After that, Gray, who had racked up a big pitch count during the earlier innings, completely fell apart. The next batter, Ellsbury, reached on catcher’s interference for the 5th time already this year (the record is 8 by former Yankee Roberto Kelly in 1992), and Gray then uncorked a wild pitch that scored Torreyes and moved Ellsbury to second with one out. Gardner followed with a walk, and Ellsbury moved to third on yet another wild pitch by Gray. Beltran then hit a scorching line drive to Crisp in center. Crisp started in, but misjudged the ball, which went over his head for a two-run double. Gray’s night was over, having allowed 5 runs on 6 hits and 4 BBs on 98 pitches in 3.1 innings. Yikes.

After the Yankees had their big offensive inning, Sabathia came out and retired the A’s 123 in the bottom of the fourth, which was huge at the time. There’s nothing like a big shut down inning following an offensive outburst, and Sabathia made it two 123 innings in a row in the bottom of the fifth.

The Yankees tacked on more in the top of the sixth off of reliever Ryan Dull. Gardner hit a grounder to the shortstop Marcus Semien, but beat the throw for a leadoff single. Beltran then came up and hit another double, this one a towering fly ball that hit high up on the wall in right field. Gardner slid in just ahead of the relay throw to put the Yankees up 6-1. What a series Beltran is having so far! The double was his fourth in the last two games (he also homered last night), and he’s driven 6 runs. He now leads the team in doubles, homers, runs, RBI and slugging. Go Carlos, it’s ya birthday (OK, it’s not, but he’s been partying like it’s his birthday, anyway).

Sabathia went back out and shut down the A’s again in the bottom of the sixth, and was removed in favor of Kirby Yates in the bottom of the seventh. His outing was a much-needed success: 6 innings, 1 run, just 3 hits, 1 BB, and 8 strikeouts. Take a bow, big man. That’s how you do that.

The rest of the game went about as smoothly as it can go when the elite of the bullpen are unavailable. Yates gave up a run in the seventh, but rebounded with a 123 eighth. The Yankees rubbed some salt in the wounds in the top of the ninth when Ellsbury tripled in Gregorius and Torreyes, who had singled with two out.  Chasen Shreve allowed a run, but finished things off in the ninth to seal the 8-3 victory.

It was really nice to have the offense put up enough runs, and the starter go enough innings, to take the bullpen decisions out of Girardi’s hands and allow Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman to get a much-needed night off.

Related Story: Nova and Yankees Bullpen Dominate in 4-1 Win Over Oakland

The Yankees will try to win the series tomorrow, and set up a potential Sunday sweep, as Masahiro Tanaka takes the hill against Sean Manea, who carries a 7.91 ERA into the afternoon scuffle at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum. First pitch is at 4:05 PM. Here’s hoping for another night off for the pen, and another big win!