Game 30 Wrap-Up: TB 5 NYY 1

(Courtesy of the AP)

For the Yankees to successfully tread water while Michael Pineda is out, they need CC Sabathia to be better.  No matter how good some of the peripherals look or how most of his damage has come in bad 1-inning samples, at the end of the day it's the final results that matter and CC's haven't been all that good.  He could have gotten back on the right track with a strong performance in today's series finale against the Rays and sent the team back on the road with some positive momentum.  Instead he pitched very poorly and got the sputtering offense into a hole it couldn't climb out of.

Game Notes:

- In short, it wasn't a good start for CC.  He wasn't commanding his 4-seamer or sinker and he gave up 4 runs on 4 XBH through the first 3 innings, including a 3-run inside-the-park home run by Wil Myers in the 3rd.

- Joe probably wanted to try to get at least 5 out of CC, but there was no way he could let him continue if he wanted to win.  CC gave up another run on 3 hits and failed to cover first base on a potential double play ball and he was out with 2 outs in the 4th, leaving to some well deserved boos.

- Regardless of how CC was pitching, the Yankee offense had no excuse for not scoring more than 1 run off of Erik Bedard in the first 4 innings.  They left 5 men stranded and were 0-6 with RISP.

- Give a big tip of cap to Alfredo Aceves.  He took over for CC in his re-debut appearance and kept his team within striking distance.  5.1 scoreless IP, 3 hits, 5 strikeouts.  And he gave the rest of the 'pen another day off.

- It didn't matter much.  The offense never found its footing, stranding 2 in the bottom of the 7th and never mounting a credible threat in the 8th or 9th.  Pretty pathetic showing all-around.

F*ck Yeahs:

- Brett Gardner: 2-4, 1 K, 2 LOB.  At least he got on base twice.

- Aceves: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K.  The guy must just love pitching for the Yankees.  He's been pretty shitty since leaving but he was excellent today.  Maybe Joe starts to work him in as CC's tandem start partner?  Might not be a bad idea if this is how CC is going to pitch.

Oh Nos:

- CC: 3.2 IP, 10 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K.  Dreadful outing.  Just dreadful.  Couldn't throw either of his fastballs down in the strike zone, couldn't throw his offspeed stuff in the strike zone.  No bad luck at work here.  Just bad pitching.

- Top of the Order: Combined 0-12, 1 K, 10 LOB from Ellsbury, Jeter, and Beltran.  The slumps continue for the last 2.

Next Up:

It's off to the west to start a 6-game road trip.  It begins with 3 games against the Angels and David Phelps will finally make his first start in place of Pineda.  He'll face Anaheim ace Jered Weaver.