(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| N.Y. Yankees « | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | x | 5 | 8 | 1 |
SV: M. Rivera (23)
After seeing his fourth child enter the world two days ago, CC Sabathia wrapped up a pretty eventful week by stepping up big time on Saturday in the Bronx and shutting down the Red Sox for eight innings. The big fella held the Sox to just two runs over eight innings, while walking one and striking out four on his way to his 14th win of the year.
Boston did jump out to an early 2-0 lead in the second. Victor Martinez took the lefty deep for a solo shot leading off the inning. Adrian Beltre and Mike Lowell followed with back-to-back doubles to add another. That would be all for the Sox, as CC allowed just two singles and a walk the rest of the way.
The Sox lead didn't last very long, because the Yankees came back with a two spot of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Lance Berkman led off with a walk, and then came home on Curtis Granderson's triple off the top of the right-centerfield wall. Granderson would later score on a groundout by Ramiro Pena.
The score would stay tied at two until the fifth, when the Yankees would take a 4-2 lead. With nobody on and two out, the Yankees would string together four straight singles. Robinson Cano's gave the Yanks a 3-2 lead, and Jorge Posada's made it 4-2.
Pena, who was replacing the injured Alex Rodriguez, came through again in the sixth. Once again driving home Granderson, this time with a solid single to right.
All five Yankees runs came against Sox starter John Lackey, who continues to have a disappointing first season in Beantown. The right-hander is now 10-7, with a very pedestrian 4.60 ERA.
At 101 pitches through eight, CC probably could have finished off the game, but Joe Girardi decided to go with Mariano Rivera for the ninth. He barely broke a sweat, retiring the side in order on just eight pitches.
The win moves the Yanks back to six games up on the Sox, and a game and a half on the Rays thanks to their loss in Toronto.
It will be a matchup of fomrer Marlins, as A.J. Burnett takes on Josh Beckett tomorrow night in the Bronx. First pitch is 8:05 p.m. and the game will be on ESPN.
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG |
| Derek Jeter, SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | .278 |
| Nick Swisher, RF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .297 |
| Mark Teixeira, 1B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .258 |
| Robinson Cano, 2B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .332 |
| Jorge Posada, C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .261 |
| Lance Berkman, DH | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .234 |
| Curtis Granderson, CF | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .246 |
| Brett Gardner, LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | .283 |
| Ramiro Pena, 3B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .208 |
| Totals | 32 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 11 | | |
| Batting | ||||||||
| 3B - Curtis Granderson (6, Lackey) | ||||||||
| RBI - Robinson Cano (72), Jorge Posada (39), Curtis Granderson (33), Ramiro Pena 2 (13) | ||||||||
| 2-OUT RBI - Robinson Cano (24), Jorge Posada (13) | ||||||||
| SB - Jorge Posada (1, 2nd base off Lackey/Martinez), Curtis Granderson (10, 3rd base off Lackey/Martinez), Ramiro Pena (4, 2nd base off Lackey/Martinez) | ||||||||
| RISP - 3-10 (Derek Jeter 0-1, Ramiro Pena 1-2, Brett Gardner 0-2, Lance Berkman 0-1, Jorge Posada 1-2, Nick Swisher 0-1, Robinson Cano 1-1) Team LOB - 6 | ||||||||
| Fielding | ||||||||
| DP - Teixeira-Pena, Jeter-Cano-Teixeira | ||||||||
| E - Ramiro Pena (3, Misplayed grounder) | ||||||||
| Pitchers | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
| CC Sabathia (W,14-5) | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3.14 |
| Mariano Rivera (S,23) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.89 |
| Pitches-Strikes - CC Sabathia 101-62, Mariano Rivera 8-6 | ||||||||
| Ground Balls-Fly Balls - CC Sabathia 11-8, Mariano Rivera 1-2 | ||||||||
| Batters Faced - CC Sabathia 30, Mariano Rivera 3 | ||||||||
| PLAYER OF THE GAME: CC Sabathia HONORABLE MENTION: Curtis Granderson |
