Game 144 Wrap-Up: TB 6 NYY 4

(Just admit you're hurt so we can stop speculating.  Courtesy of the AP)

 

Normally a CC Sabathia-David Price pitching matchup is must-see TV.  The first team to 2 or 3 is usually going to win and there's always the possibility of a shutout, a complete game, or double digit strikeouts if one guy is really feeling it.  With the way Sabathia has pitched since coming off the DL, there wasn't quite that same luster last night, and the feeling was more geared towards hope, hope that CC wouldn't continue to get hit around and give up home runs.  He managed to not give up any last night, but still encountered many of the same problems that have plagued him all year.

Game Notes:

- The Yankees didn't get much against Price early, but they did manage 1 run in the 2nd inning.  Go figure that it was Steve Pearce coming through with the 2-out RBI single.  It's still not good that he's hitting in the middle of the lineup, but at least he produced there.

- After a close call in the 1st, CC worked painlessly and efficiently through the 4th, getting all 9 outs on the infield and 4 on the ground.  His command was better and he located his fastball well early in the count.  Sabathia was also throwing more changeups, a trend that's popped up recently.

- Things came apart for Sabathia almost inconceivably quickly in the 5th.  He gave up a leadoff double to Chris Gimenez, walked 2 batters after being ahead in the count, and allowed a pair of singles.  His fastball command went away, he couldn't finish hitters off, and Tampa took a 3-1 lead.

- Curtis Granderson got him back within a run with a solo blast to lead off the bottom of the 5th.  It's been a strange few games for Curtis, truly all or nothing, but he got all of the 5th fastball he saw in that at-bat.

- Sabathia got 3 groundball outs in the 6th and looked to be back on the right track, but couldn't close out the 7th inning, giving up a 2-out single to Ben Zobrist that scored a run and put the Rays back up by 2.

- Don't ask me why Cody Eppley was left out to start the 8th inning against a red hot B.J. Upton.  In a 2-run game in a playoff race this close it should have been Joba.  Upton took Eppley deep to extend the lead to 5-2, a run that would end up being very big.

- With Price out of the game after 7, the Yankees wasted little time trying to make a late run.  Derek Jeter singled and Alex Rodriguez homered to pull them within 1 with just 1 out in the 8th.  The Yanks drew 2 more walks, but Russell Martin struck out swinging and C-Grand grounded out on the first pitch he saw to end the inning.

- Joe went to Joba for the 9th, and Chamberlain got burned by some bad Eduardo Nunez defense to plate a Rays' insurance run.  Fernando Rodney sat the 9th down 1-2-3 and that was your ballgame.

F*ck Yeahs:

- C-Grand: 1-4, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 K, 3 LOB.  Breathed some life back into the team with his HR in the shutdown inning after the Rays scored 3.

- A-Rod: 1-3, 1 HR, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 LOB.  Provided a huge lift to the team and the crowd with his bomb in the 8th.  The rest of the order behind him couldn't pick him up.

Oh Nos:

- Sabathia: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, L.  He was a little better than the last few times he started, but you shouldn't be talking about CC in terms of "a little better."  The fact of the matter is he was inconsistent with his command again, couldn't finish hitters and innings off when he needed to again, and gave up a lead for the 5th straight game.  The dude is not right, and if he doesn't get right then it really doesn't matter if the Yankees make the playoffs or not because they won't go anywhere with their ace pitching like this.

- Joe: Eppley to start the 8th inning against Upton?  Really?!?!  Are you fucking high?!

Next Up:

The Yanks didn't lose the lead in the division thanks to a rare Baltimore loss, so they have a chance to take sole possession again today.  Ivan Nova will return to the mound for the first time since he got hurt, and he's got not small task in front of him facing James Shields.