New York Yankees 4 — Oakland Athletics 6
CC Sabathia had a difficult time in tonight’s 6-4 loss to the Oakland Athletics.
Two pitches into Sabathia’s start and he would be trailing. Leadoff hitter Coco Crisp took him deep to put the Yankees behind early. In the second inning, good placement of a pop fly to right field and a less than average right fielder may have played a role in the next run scoring. Derek Norris would hit an unorthodox double that would fall in front of right fielder Lyle Overbay and over the head of Robinson Cano, resulting in a run-scoring double for the A’s catcher.
The A’s catcher would get to Sabathia one more time. In the third inning, Norris would come up with two on and two out but one swing would bring home three on a line drive home run to left center field. In another sign of a poor start of Sabathia’s, the sixth run of the game would score on a wild pitch during a walk.
CC Sabathia’s night would end with six runs allowed on eight hits in his six innings of work. He walked one and struck out three.
For Oakland, former Yankee Bartolo Colon would get the start. In unusual fashion, Bartolo Colon would walk two batters (entering tonight, he had six walked batters…all season!). With a leadoff single by Brett Gardner and these walks, the bases would be loaded with one out. Kevin Youkilis would pop out and Lyle Overbay would fly out. Bases loaded, one out and no runs would score. It would be that kind of game.
Bartolo Colon would pitch six scoreless innings, allowing three hits with four walks and three strikeouts.
The Yankees would begin to get on the scoreboard in the eighth inning. With the top of the lineup starting the inning; Gardner, Cano, and Teixeira would hit three consecutive singles off of left-handed reliever Jerry Blevins. The Teixeira single would bring in the first run for the Yankees. The next batter, Travis Hafner possibly hit the hardest shot of the inning but it was snagged by right fielder Josh Reddick for the first out of the inning. Yes, that kind of game. Kevin Youkilis would ground into a force out but Vernon Wells would get a pinch-hit single to bring in the second run of the game as the Yankees looked to begin a rally. Ryan Cook would come in for Blevins and get Ichiro to ground out to end the inning.
In the ninth inning, two Yankees would reach base attempting to begin a rally. There would be two outs so A’s closer Grant Balfour would come in for the save opportunity. The first batter, Mark Teixeira would bring in two runs on a single to cut the lead down to two and bring the tying run to the plate. Travis Hafner was the tying run and hit a deep fly ball to left field that was caught against the wall to end the game.
Brett Gardner continued his hot hitting with two more hits tonight. Robinson Cano got off to a better start in tonight’s series with two hits and two walks while scoring twice. Mark Teixeira had the big night, driving in three of the four runs. Rookie reliever Preston Claiborne continues having a great season as his scoreless inning lowers his ERA to 0.47.
Win – Bartolo Colon (8-2)
Loss – CC Sabathia (6-5)
Save – Grant Balfour (16)
Notables
Yankees
*Mark Teixeira – 2 for 5, 3 RBI (11)
*Robinson Cano – 2 for 3, 2 R, 2 BB, 2B
Athletics
*Derek Norris – 2 for 3, R, 2B, 3-Run Home Run (3) in the 4th, 4 RBI (14)
*Coco Crisp – 1 for 4, R, Solo Home Run (8) in the 1st, RBI (24)
Current Yankees Record: 37-27
