08/19: Sabathia and Jeter Stay Hot in August as Yankees Beat A's, 7-2
Posted by: Patrick
As has happened more than a few times this season, the A's managed to get some early runs off of CC Sabathia. The big lefty has an 8.14 ERA during pitches 1 through 15 in 2009 - allowing 19 earned runs, which is 6 more than any other 15 pitch segment of his starts.
But, as Sabathia has shown day in and day out this year, as well, is that it's not how you start - it's how you finish. With those first two frames out of the way, CC pitched his final six innings scoreless, allowing just 3 more hits to go along with a walk and seven strikeouts. He needed just 94 pitches - 66 of which were thrown for strikes.
The Yankees scored early, too, with Melky Cabrera scoring when Derek Jeter reached on a fielding error in the second. Jorge Posada added an RBI ground rule double in the third, which brought around Alex Rodriguez.
Things remained deadlocked at 2-2 until the sixth, which proved to be the only other inning that had any scoring. The Yankees made it count. After a Robinson Cano ground out, Nick Swisher doubled and then advanced to third on a passed ball. Melky Cabrera was hit by a pitch to put runners at the corners for the Captain.
He delivered, striking an RBI single to left, moving Cabrera to second. Johnny Damon followed with a double that scored Melky and the A's elected to intentionally walk Mark Teixeira to load the bases for A-Rod. A-Rod made them pay - not so much with his bat, but with his patience. A bases loaded walk brought home Jeter.
Hideki Matsui didn't end the hit parade, as he extended it with a single that scored Damon. Jorge Posada made out number two productively, hitting a sacrifice fly to center that allowed Teixeira to score. Finally, the inning ended where it started with Cano grounding into a fielder's choice and A-Rod being thrown out at home. When the dust cleared, it was 7-2, Yankees.
David Robertson pitched the ninth and immediately put himself in trouble with back to back walks. But, he then got two strike outs and, after a wild pitch, ended the inning without allowing any runs.
Jeter led the offense with a 3 for 5 day, including a run and an RBI (one of the runs that scored was on a play where he reached on an error, as well). Damon (double, walk, run, RBI), Matsui (walk, RBI) and Melky (double, 2 runs) all had two hits. Everyone in the lineup reached base outside of Cano.
Jeter has been incredibly hot in August, hitting to a line of .377 AVG/.380 OBA/.558 SLG - with the average and slugging being the highest he's had in any month, if it holds out. He's hit 4 home runs and 11 RBI and we're only 18 days into the month, too. He has plenty of time to add to that. For now, though, he's raised his batting average to .330 on the year, the highest it's been since April 9 - the third day of the season.
Meanwhile, Sabathia is having his finest month as a Yankee. He's 4-0 in August with a 2.35 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and .185 BAA. All three would be his best in any individual month this season. He's struck out 31 and walked 5 in 30.2 innings.
Today, Chad Gaudin (5-10, 5.13) makes his first start with the Yankees against Brett Anderson (7-8, 4.55) at 10:05 PM ET.
Recap records: Seamus: 34–22, Patrick: 32–14, Andrew: 9–9
But, as Sabathia has shown day in and day out this year, as well, is that it's not how you start - it's how you finish. With those first two frames out of the way, CC pitched his final six innings scoreless, allowing just 3 more hits to go along with a walk and seven strikeouts. He needed just 94 pitches - 66 of which were thrown for strikes.
The Yankees scored early, too, with Melky Cabrera scoring when Derek Jeter reached on a fielding error in the second. Jorge Posada added an RBI ground rule double in the third, which brought around Alex Rodriguez.
Things remained deadlocked at 2-2 until the sixth, which proved to be the only other inning that had any scoring. The Yankees made it count. After a Robinson Cano ground out, Nick Swisher doubled and then advanced to third on a passed ball. Melky Cabrera was hit by a pitch to put runners at the corners for the Captain.
He delivered, striking an RBI single to left, moving Cabrera to second. Johnny Damon followed with a double that scored Melky and the A's elected to intentionally walk Mark Teixeira to load the bases for A-Rod. A-Rod made them pay - not so much with his bat, but with his patience. A bases loaded walk brought home Jeter.
Hideki Matsui didn't end the hit parade, as he extended it with a single that scored Damon. Jorge Posada made out number two productively, hitting a sacrifice fly to center that allowed Teixeira to score. Finally, the inning ended where it started with Cano grounding into a fielder's choice and A-Rod being thrown out at home. When the dust cleared, it was 7-2, Yankees.
David Robertson pitched the ninth and immediately put himself in trouble with back to back walks. But, he then got two strike outs and, after a wild pitch, ended the inning without allowing any runs.
Jeter led the offense with a 3 for 5 day, including a run and an RBI (one of the runs that scored was on a play where he reached on an error, as well). Damon (double, walk, run, RBI), Matsui (walk, RBI) and Melky (double, 2 runs) all had two hits. Everyone in the lineup reached base outside of Cano.
Jeter has been incredibly hot in August, hitting to a line of .377 AVG/.380 OBA/.558 SLG - with the average and slugging being the highest he's had in any month, if it holds out. He's hit 4 home runs and 11 RBI and we're only 18 days into the month, too. He has plenty of time to add to that. For now, though, he's raised his batting average to .330 on the year, the highest it's been since April 9 - the third day of the season.
Meanwhile, Sabathia is having his finest month as a Yankee. He's 4-0 in August with a 2.35 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and .185 BAA. All three would be his best in any individual month this season. He's struck out 31 and walked 5 in 30.2 innings.
Today, Chad Gaudin (5-10, 5.13) makes his first start with the Yankees against Brett Anderson (7-8, 4.55) at 10:05 PM ET.
Recap records: Seamus: 34–22, Patrick: 32–14, Andrew: 9–9
