Oakland Athletics 2 – New York Yankees 0
Shortstop Adam Rosales didn’t hesitate with CC Sabathia. On the very first pitch of the game, Rosales took Sabathia deep to put the A’s ahead by one before fans could even get settled in. After this, CC would hold the A’s off the scoreboard until the sixth inning.
A leadoff walk would come to haunt the Yankees left-hander but a bit of deception by Ichiro Suzuki helped Sabathia as Suzuki would act like the ball would be an easy fly ball when in fact, it would hit the wall. He would proceed to recover the ball and throw out third baseman Donaldson, trying to stretch his single to a double. A single would follow to bring in the second run of the game.
CC Sabathia would exit after throwing a season-high 118 pitches through six innings. He allowed two runs on eight hits. Generally, Sabathia goes deeper into the game, going at least seven innings in five of his six starts entering tonight.
A.J. Griffin started for the A’s and he was effective and efficient with his pitching. For three innings, the fourth through the sixth, Griffin kept his pitch count to just nine pitches in each of those innings. The Yankees had a scoring opportunity in the seventh inning when Jayson Nix got a double with two outs. Pinch-hitter Brennan Boesch would strikeout to end this slim opportunity.
Griffin would be replaced after a bunt single on a 3-2 pitch by Brett Gardner in the eighth inning. Griffin held the Yankees to just six hits without allowing the Yankees a run.
Left-handed reliever Sean Doolittle would take over in the eighth inning and after a fly out by Robinson Cano, Vernon Wells would hit into a double play and end the inning. The Yankees would go down in order in the ninth inning to Sean Doolittle and closer Grant Balfour as the offense could not get going against the A’s.
The Yankees were limited to just six opportunities with runners in scoring position but were hitless. CC Sabathia was a hard luck loser and Adam Warren provided impressive relief work behind him. In three scoreless innings, Warren walked two and gave up two hits while striking out four.
Win – A.J. Griffin (3-2)
Loss – CC Sabathia (4-3)
Save – Grant Balfour (4)
Notables
Athletics
*Adam Rosales – 2 for 5, R, Solo Home Run (1) in the 1st, RBI (3)
*Derek Norris – 1 for 3, BB, RBI (5)
Yankees
*Jayson Nix – 2 for 3
*Brett Gardner – 2 for 4
Current Yankees Record: 17-11
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