The warrior took the mound in Arizona likely for the last time in his career. As CC Sabathia gazed onto the field from the dugout before his first warm up pitch from the mound, I wondered what he was thinking. I know what I would be thinking. "Just go out there in pitch." It is just that simple for him these days, but Sabathia has risen up against the odds, his addiction, his injuries and pains and he has earned this moment. Today, the great number 52 has a back door slider and back leg kick in his pitching repertoire, one he re-invented after aging and numerous injuries to his knee. And now he's in the 3,000 club #CC3K.
Source: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
"Sabathia, who enters the game with 2,997 strikeouts, would become the 17th pitcher in MLB history to reach the mark and only the third left-hander," reported NJ.com. In perhaps anticipation of 3,000 being an incredible milestone, another notch in his belt and likely a trip to the Hall of Fame, Sabathia just had his stuff last night. While Zack Greinke picked up his third strikeout by the end of his second inning, CC Sabathia had to wait a bit longer.
Source: AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez
"For his career the 38-year-old Sabathia owns a 247-153 record and a 3.69 ERA that, when adjusted for era and ballpark, is 17 percent better than league average. He has a very good chance to become only the 13th pitcher in history with 250 wins and 3,000 strikeouts at some point in the next few weeks," report CBS Sports. And 3,000 came to Sabathia last night. With every pitch, I held my breath, waiting for history to happen. His first strike out came in the second inning followed by his second strike out.
With his family in the stands, cheering through each pitch, Chase Field seemed more like Yankee Stadium West. Yankee fans chanted "Let's Go Yankees," and willed Sabathia to his 3,000th strikeout, but not before giving up a solo home run to put the Diamondbacks up with a 1-0 lead. As drama ensued, Sabathia dropped a slider in for his third strikeout of the inning, number 3,000, against former Yankee John Ryan Murphy.
Amazing! This could not have happened to a more deserving competitor and great guy. BYB Loves CC... and CC loves us back... right here at BYB!
Congrats CC!
--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof
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