The Yankees kick off a tough 10 game home stand with the Orioles in town, as CC Sabathia (11-11, 4.81 ERA) goes head to head with Miguel Gonzalez (8-6, 3.77 ERA). Sabathia looked liked the ace of old for five innings his last time out, against the Rays, but it all came to a halt in the three run sixth that cost the Yankees. The big lefty said the whole season has felt like “one big inning in which I can’t stop the bleeding. If something gets going, it’s hard for me to make a pitch.” He allowed four runs in each of his two starts against Baltimore this year. During the season’s second half, he has made it through the seventh inning just once, and he’s posted an unCC like 7.30 ERA in seven starts since the All Star break.
Those aren’t exactly encouraging words coming from the mouth of the Opening Day starter. But Austin Romine said he thought Sabathia’s first five innings on Saturday were among the best he’s pitched all year.
Gonzalez returns to the rotation, after two relief stints. He is 0-1 against New York this season but he’s posted a 2.25 ERA in two starts at Yankee Stadium. New York has taken both of the series between the two at Yankee Stadium this season, but Baltimore holds the edge in the overall season series, 7-5, because of dominance at Camden Yards.
Alfonso Soriano has been red hot since returning to the Yankees in late July. He has hit 10 home runs in August alone. “It’s great to me,” Soriano said. “When I left here in 2004, I wasn’t sad, because it’s part of the game, but I thought that I had something to prove to myself, my teammates and the fans.” Even though he has only been with the team for a short time, his .561 slugging percentage is the best on the team.
Notes on the game.
The Orioles entered Thursday having committed just 39 errors through 131 games. The 2003 Mariners hold the current single season record for fewest errors with 65.
In 40 career at bats against Sabathia, Baltimore catcher Matt Wieters is hitting .175 with 11 strikeouts.
The Yankees are an even .500 (43-43) in night games this season.
First pitch at 7:05 PM on Yes.
