THE ROAR OF THE YANKEE ACE IS BACK IN THE BRONX

On a night when the Yankees acknowledged, but did not celebrate, the seventy-first anniversary of the end of Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak, fans and teammates did celebrate the return of CC Sabathia to the Yankee rotation.  Sabathia lasted 6+ innings, threw 87 pitches, 66 for strikes, and allowed only four hits and a walk.  Manager Joe Girardi took a conservative approach with Sabathia, removing him from the game in the 7th inning following a lead off single to right by Adam Lind.

Sabathia's performance ensured the Yankees a chance for victory without relying on another miraculous late inning rally.  His only real trouble of the night came in the second inning following a lead off double by Edwin Encarnacion.  Sabathia escaped further damage in the inning by inducing a line out to third by Lind, a foul ball pop out to Mark Teixeira by Yunel Escobar, and a weak fly out to center field by Ben Francisco.  Francisco was playing right field for the Blue Jays by as a result of a wrist injury to Jose Bautista. Bautista was placed on the 15-day disabled list following the injury he sustained in yesterday's game.  Sabathia did allow a two out double in the third inning to Rajai Davis, but he was left stranded when CC struck out Colby Rasmus.

(In Photo: Edwin Encarnacion)

Sabathia faced yet another slight scare in the sixth, when Edwin Encarnacion was able to extend his at bat following a two out walk to Brett Lawrie.  Eventually CC was able to secure the strikeout when Encarnacion took a called third.  The bullpen provided mixed results in releief of Sabathia.  Cody Eppley and Boone Logan were solid in support of the starter's effort, following a 22-day layoff thanks to a stint on the disabled list and the All-Star Game break. Chad Qualls was less than impressive in his 1.1 innings of relief allowing a walk, two hits, and the lone Blue Jay run. 

 Clay Rapada and Rafael Soriano finished up, with Soriano securing his 24th save in 25 chances.  Soriano escaped further damage by inducing an unassisted double play off the bat of J.P. Arencibia.  Mark Teixeira flagged his line drive and was also able to tag Anthony Gose as he scrambled back toward first base, completing the double play and thus preserving the Yankees 6-1 victory.

Unlike the end of Joe DiMaggio's hitting streak on July 17, 1941, the Yankee offense was there when needed on this night.  Three quick runs scored in the second when Robinson Cano extended his 19-game hit streak to 20 games with a single to center field.  Following a walk by Nick Swisher, Andruw Jones lifted a three-run home run to left field and the Yanks had all they would need offensively.  The Yankees did add three more runs in the sixth inning, this time without the help of the ubiquitous home run ball.  

Jayson Nix, who was three for three on the night, scored on a double down the left field line by Chris Stewart.  Stewart then scored on a double to right by Jeter, and the final run came home when Jeter scored from third on an Alex Rodriguez fielder's choice.  Jeter had advanced to third in the inning following a sing by Curtis Granderson.

A note on Cano's hitting streak, Robinson is now 32 for 79 during the 20-game hit streak.  On a night when the Yankees remembered DiMaggio, it is fitting to recognize Cano's .405 batting average during his run.

Again, the final, Yankees 6 - Blue Jays 1.

The Yankees and Blue Jays square off again tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium in the conclusion of this three-game series.

--Frank Gentry, Contest Winner & BYB Writer






ORDER A BYB SHIRT NOW, DROB WEARS ONE! Also, Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.