Monday, June 21, 2010

CC Outduels Johan, Leads Yanks Into First

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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N.Y. Mets000000000040
N.Y. Yankees «00400000x490
WP: C. Sabathia (8-3) LP: J. Santana (5-4)

It was a very nice win for the Yankees as they beat the Mets 4-0 to take the second leg of the Subway Series and move into sole possession of first place in the AL East.

CC Sabathia dominated the Mets, allowing just four hits and two walks over eight shutout innings and striking out six along the way. CC was really never in trouble all day. He did give up a leadoff double in the sixth to Ruben Tejada, but was able to retire Jose Reyes, Angel Pagan and David Wright in order to leave Tejada on second. Then in the seveth, his roughest inning of the day, he allowed a leadoff single to Ike Davis and then walked Jason Bay to put two on with nobody out. Once again, he got out of it. This time, he struck out Rod Barajas and then got Fernando Tatis to ground into an inning-ending doubleplay.

CC hasn't been CC lately, so it was great to see him have a start like this. It was his best start since his near no-hitter in Tampa on April 10th, and hopefully it's a sign that he's turning things around.

For most of the game, Johan Santana was also very good, but he got into trouble in the third, and unlike CC he couldn't get out of it. Brett Gardner led off with a single, that was followed by and infield single by Derek Jeter and a bunt single by Nick Swisher to load the bases. Mark Teixeira then stepped up and hit a 1-1 fastball just over the left field wall for a grand slam. It was Tex's 12th of the season and the Yankees had all the runs they'd need for CC.

Johan eventually would complete six innings allowed the four runs on eight hits and a walk, and struck out four.

After a short rain delay in the eighth, Mariano Rivera came on for the ninth and needed 13 pitches to get through a 1-2-3 inning. No save for Mo with a four run lead, but just another lights out performance for the greatest closer this game has ever seen.

Tampa lost today, so like I mentioned at the start and in the headline, the Yankees are now all by themselves in first place. However, Boston won again and are now tied with Tampa for second and just a game back of the Yanks.

After a successful 6-3 homestand the Yankees now head to the west coast for a couple interleague series against the Diamondbacks and Joe Torre's Dodgers. The series with the DBacks begins tomorrow night at 10:10 p.m. eastern time at Chase Field. A.J. Burnett will start the opener for the Yanks and he will be facing off against former Oriole Rodrigo Lopez. The game will be on YES.

Derek Jeter, SS4120000.283
Nick Swisher, RF4110011.293
Mark Teixeira, 1B3114120.226
Alex Rodriguez, 3B4000002.277
Ramiro Pena, 3B0000000.190
Robinson Cano, 2B3000002.367
Jorge Posada, DH4020010.291
Curtis Granderson, CF4010003.240
Francisco Cervelli, C3010003.292
Brett Gardner, LF3110001.312
Totals3249414

Batting
2B - Derek Jeter (15, Santana), Jorge Posada (9, Nieve)
3B - Francisco Cervelli (3, Santana)
HR - Mark Teixeira (12, Santana)
RBI - Mark Teixeira 4 (44)
RISP: 2-9 (Mark Teixeira 1-1, Curtis Granderson 0-2, Francisco Cervelli 0-1, Brett Gardner 0-1, Alex Rodriguez 0-1, Nick Swisher 1-2, Robinson Cano 0-1)
Team LOB - 6
Fielding
DP - Jeter-Cano-Teixeira, Rodriguez-Cano-Teixeira

CC Sabathia (W,8-3)84002603.68
Mariano Rivera10000001.11
Pitches-Strikes - CC Sabathia 100-66, Mariano Rivera 13-8
Ground Balls-Fly Balls - CC Sabathia 5-11, Mariano Rivera 2-1
First-pitch strikes/Batters faced: CC Sabathia 19/28; Mariano Rivera 1/3

PLAYER OF THE GAME: CC Sabathia
HONORABLE MENTION: Mark Teixeira


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