When CC Sabathia takes the mound tonight against the Atlanta Braves, the Yankees will have a chance to do something they haven’t done in seven years – have a 10-game winning streak. That streak came in May of ’05, as Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez are the only mainstays from that team. If Interleague play is any indication, the Yankees should like their chances tonight. Over this streak, they have combined big hits with consistent pitching. In their last 23 games, the Yankees have gone 19-4, and have outscored their opponents 120-65.
Their pitching has been on an impressive run as well. A starter has gone at least six innings in 17 straight games, the longest streak by a Yankee rotation since 1981. Workhorse Sabathia will no doubt continue that trend against the Braves, and will hope to get the win tonight.
In that series in Atlanta last week, New York held the Braves to just six runs over three games; all three starters got the W (Nova, Sabathia, Kuroda). In the middle game of the series, the Yankees mounted a great comeback against a tough Atlanta bullpen. They unloaded for a six run eighth inning, which included a game tying grand slam by Alex Rodriguez, tying him with Lou Gehrig for the most all-time (23).
The Yanks will face Mike Minor tonight, who last time out held the Yankees to just one run, five hits, four strikeouts over 7.1 innings. Sabathia didn’t fare so well in that game despite picking up the victory. He went seven innings, surrendering 10 hits, four runs and striking out six.
As the Yankees come home for a “three” game home stand (they play the Mets this weekend at Citi Field) they could push this winning streak to new heights. This year at home, Sabathia is 3-2 with a 2.41 ERA. With their all-time dominance against the Braves and their solid play against the Mets, how far do you think the Yankees win streak will go?
