CC Struggles As Yanks Fall To Tigers

FINAL	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
NY Yankees	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		4	7	1
Detroit	0	5	1	1	0	0	0	0	X		7	10	2

CC Sabathia was able to work around a walk and an error in the first inning, but things fell apart quickly for him in the second. He allowed three straight singles to start the inning, then following a strikeout allowed a double, and two batters later a three-run homer off the bat of Gary Sheffield. When all was said and done he was lit up for five runs on six hits in 1.2 innings of work. He said he had no feel for his cutter and that led to some badly placed pitches that led to hits. Here's some more from CC:

"I feel like I was throwing the ball pretty good," Sabathia said. "They just put the bat on the ball, barreled up some balls, started going first-to-third on me and it kind of snowballed."

"I don't try to go out like I did when I was younger and try to start firing right away and throw hard," Sabathia said. "I try to pace myself, make sure I have my legs underneath me, make sure I'm able to handle going out there and letting the ball go a couple times."

CC understands what spring is all about. It's to regain command of your pitches and build arm strength. I'm not worried, CC will be fine.

Alfredo Aceves also had a rocky outing today. He allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in three innings of work.

Besides CC and Aceves the rest of the Yankees pitchers did well. Jose Veras and Brian Bruney both pitched perfect innings, and struck out two batters each. Mark Melancon added a scoreless inning of his own, allowing just one hit. Melancon has yet to give up a run this spring.

The Yankees scored all four of their runs off Tigers starter Justin Verlander. Mark Teixeira went 2-for-3 with a walk and drove in a run with a RBI single in the first.

Nick Swisher went 0-for-3, but picked up a RBI with a sac fly.

Jorge Posada (0-for-1) walked with the bases loaded to drive in another run. And Kevin Cash (1-for-3) drove in a run with a RBI single.

Johnny Damon had a good day at the plate going 2-for-2 with a run scored and a walk.

Cody Ransom (1-for-3) and Juan Miranda (1-for-1) also picked up hits on the day.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Cabrera, M, CF	3	1	0	0	1	0	1	.238
Jackson, A, CF	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.250
Damon, LF	2	1	2	0	1	0	0	.286
Curtis, LF	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.273
Teixeira, 1B	3	0	2	1	1	0	0	.529
Miranda, 1B	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	.182
Posada, DH	1	0	0	1	2	1	2	.353
a-Matsui, PH-DH	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	.286
Swisher, RF	3	0	0	1	0	1	6	.111
Linden, RF	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	.083
Ransom, 3B	3	0	1	0	0	0	1	.346
Leone, 3B	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.176
Berroa, 2B	3	1	0	0	0	0	1	.417
Bernier, 2B	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.188
Pena, SS	3	0	0	0	0	0	2	.273
Nunez, E, SS	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.417
Cash, C	3	1	1	1	0	0	1	.385
Romine, C	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Totals	35	4	7	4	5	4	18
a-Flied out for Posada in the 7th.
BATTING TB: Damon 2; Teixeira 2; Miranda; Ransom; Cash. RBI: Teixeira (1), Swisher (4), Cash (1), Posada (4). 2-out RBI: Posada. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Swisher 4; Cash; Linden 2. SF: Swisher. Team LOB: 10. BASERUNNING SB: Ransom (2, 2nd base off Rincon/St. Pierre, M), Cabrera, M (1, 2nd base off Verlander/Laird). FIELDING E: Ransom (1, fielding).

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Sabathia (L, 0-1)	1.2	6	5	5	1	0	1	12.27
Aceves, A	3.1	3	2	2	1	1	2	6.43
Bruney	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	6.75
Veras	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2.25
Melancon	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.00

The Yanks have an offday tomorrow before they take on the Red Sox on Friday night in Fort Myers. Chien-Ming Wang will start for the Yankees, and he will face knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. Game time is set for 7:15 p.m., and the game can be seen on MLB.tv.