New York Yankees 1 – Cleveland Indians 2
The Yankees still search for offense in Cleveland.
After Chase Headley walked with one out, Alex Rodriguez grounded into a double play against Danny Salazar, ending the inning. For the Yankees, CC Sabathia returned to his old stomping grounds of Cleveland looking to build on his great last start.
In the second inning, the Yankees settled for instant offense, because its better than none at all.
After the first out in the second inning, Brian McCann delivered a no doubt solo blast to right center field to put the Yankees on the board early.
CC Sabathia pitched a perfect second inning with the help of a dazzling play by Didi Gregorius. However, the rest of the game was not smooth sailing for the large lefty.
Sabathia lasted six innings tonight and the second inning was the only inning he retired the first batter. In the third inning, CC Sabathia faced the bases loaded with one out but got an around-the-horn double play to keep the Indians off the scoreboard. In the fourth inning, the leadoff batter got on base with a single and reached third with less than two outs but Sabathia got a ground ball to hold the runner and a second ground out to finish off the inning, making the 1-0 lead stand.
CC Sabathia entered the fifth inning and the bottom of the order got it started for the Indians.
Roberto Perez and Mike Aviles reached on a pair of singles. They advanced on a sacrifice by Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor came through with a run-scoring single to tie the game at one. Before the inning could get out of hand, Didi Gregorius turned a great double play to kill the impending rally.
The straw that broke the back of the great pitching came in the sixth inning.
Carlos Santana and Jerry Sands started the sixth inning with a pair of singles. After a force out put runners on the corners, Abraham Almonte hit a single to center to give the Indians the one-run lead.
In six innings, CC Sabathia allowed two runs on nine hits while walking two and striking two. He was threatened through five of the six innings he pitched in but he toughed out a great start despite the lack of run support behind him.
While the Indians threatened Sabathia inning after inning, the Yankees did little to make Danny Salazar work.
The Yankees got their second hit of the game in the sixth inning by Brett Gardner, who was erased on the bases when he was caught stealing. The Yankees truly threatened in the seventh inning after Mark Teixeira hit a single and Carlos Beltran hit a one-out double to put two in scoring position. Unfortunately, Didi Gregorius popped out to the pitcher and Chris Young struck out to end the inning.
With Salazar in his last inning, Brett Gardner and Chase Headley walked with two outs in the eighth inning. The Indians brought in closer Cody Allen, who got Alex Rodriguez to ground into an inning-ending double play.
The Yankees were presented an unexpected opportunity when Brian McCann reached base with one out after striking out but Carlos Beltran flew out to left and Didi Gregorius struck out to end the game as offense continues to be absent in the Yankees bats.
Win – Danny Salazar (10-6)
Loss – CC Sabathia (4-9)
Save – Cody Allen (23)
Notables
Yankees
*Brian McCann – 1 for 4, R, Solo home run (19) in the 2nd, RBI (66)
*Carlos Beltran – 1 for 4, BB, 2B
Indians
*Abraham Almonte – 1 for 4, RBI (9)
*Francisco Lindor – 1 for 2, BB, RBI (22)
Current Yankees Record: 61-51
