CC MONSTER DOMINATES; YANKEES WIN 6-3

Entering tonight's match up with the Seattle Mariners, several important story lines were working.  The Mariners came in red hot, having won seven games in a row and eight of ten, since trading Ichiro Suzuki to the Yankees.  Meanwhile the Yanks had gone 4-5 since the acquisition of Ichiro, but Suzuki had managed a hit in every game with New York. 

 

Additionally,  CC Sabathia had struggled in his last three outings.  Manager Joe Girardi decided to make a change at catcher, giving Russell Martin the start instead of CC's usual "personal" catcher, Chris Stewart.  In his post game comments, Girardi expressed his desire to reunite the Martin-Sabathia battery combination.  Girardi also reinserted Mark Teixeira into his lineup. Girardi played one more trump card by inserting Curtis Granderson into the lead-off spot for only the 4th time this season.

The night started well for Sabathia with his new battery mate.  Through the first six innings, CC struck out 10 Mariners.  His only blemish was a ball he left up and over the plate to Casper Wells.  Wells deposited the pitch into the left field stands for a home run.  Though five the Yanks had hit Kevin Millwood fairly well, they only managed two runs on seven hits and a walk.  The Yanks scored 2 in the third inning after Ichiro reached first via an infield hit.  

Ichiro extended his Yankee hitting streak to 10 games with the single.  Russell Martin followed with a double to center and Suzuki moved to third on the hit.

 

Robinon Cano plated the 2 runners with a single to right.  The Yanks carried that 2-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth, but nobody was feeling comfortable with New York winless in the last six one-run games played.  The Yankees were able to get some insurance via the home run ball.

 

Eric Chavez hit a patented fly ball, short-porch, Yankee Stadium home run that also scored Raul Ibanez.  Ibanez was on base via a fielder's choice.  The Chavez HR reduced the anxiety level and gave the Yankees a 4-1 lead through 6.

 

Sabathia was able to cruise through innings seven and eight, allowing only a one out double to Miguel Olivo.  Olivo was left stranded as Sabathia retired Eric Thames and Trayvon Robinson on ground outs. In the seventh inning, the Yankees increased their comfort level with two runs off reliever Carter Capps.  Capps allowed a Russell Martin single and a Granderson walk to start the seventh.  He was replaced by Oliver Perez who quickly allowed RBI singles to Cano and Ibanez.  The Yankee lead had grown to 6-1.

 

In the ninth, Sabathia had a hiccup.  He walked nine-hole hitter Brendan Ryan to start the inning and then allowed a monster shot HR off the bat of Dustin Ackley.  Suddenly the lead had shrunk to 6-3 and the Yankees had closer Rafael Soriano warmed in the bullpen.  Girardi visited the mound, but the big man convinced the manager all was well.  Sabathia proved it by retiring Wells, Kyle Seager, and Jesus Montero in succession.

 

Sabathia continued his August dominance, running his career record in the hot month to 42-12.  CC also recorded his 35th complete game in moving his 2012 record to 11-3.  His Friday night dominance was a major first step in restoring order and confidence to the Yankee camp.

 

Friday night's final, Yankees 6  Mariners 3.

--Frank Gentry, BYB Writer

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