CC Sabathia (8-6, 4.15 ERA) squares off against P.J. Walters (2-4, 6.03 ERA) and will try to win the series against Minnesota. Sabathia had a no hitter going into the sixth inning on June 28 against Baltimore but blew a three run lead, losing a 4-3 decision. His fastball, slider and changeup all looked sharp, and Sabathia said he doesn’t feel far off from dominance. He struggled throughout June, allowing four or more runs in four of his five starts and compiling a 5.11 ERA. He’ll look to turn the corner tonight and get July off to a good start. “I feel like I’m wasting starts,” Sabathia said after the loss in Baltimore. “I’m feeling great and throwing the ball good. I’ve just not been able to put together a whole start. It’s just frustrating.”
Walters registered his second earliest exit of the season last Friday, going just three innings against the Royals. The righty gave up six runs on six hits, including two home runs while striking out just one and walking one.
It looks like July has revitalized the team. Robinson Cano has been the leader of the offensive surge, going 5-8 with three home runs, six RBIs and five runs through the two games against the Twins. He’s batting .571 on the current road trip. “You know how much damage he can do, and he can get really, really hot,” Joe Girardi said. “You look at the last four or five days, he’s swung the bat really well. You want that really hot streak to go a long time. It’s comforting.”
Vernon Wells went 2-3 on Monday, hitting two solid singles to left before Ichiro Suzuki pinch-hit for him in the eighth inning. It might not seem like much, but the two hit performance marked Wells’ best night at the plate in nearly a month. Monday’s game was Wells’ first multihit performance since June 8 and just his second since May 10. “My swing is good. We worked on a couple of things as far as emphasizing using my backside more,” Wells said. “I wanted to use my hands so much, I ended up pretty much only using my hands and not really getting my lower half into my swing. Obviously, I got the results in the game, but just during batting practice and the work today, the ball is jumping off my bat like it should.”
After batting .184 in May and June, Wells has become a part time player, losing his spot in left field to rookie Zoilo Almonte. Wells was out of the lineup on Tuesday but could start on Wednesday. “I just know that every day is a new day,” he said. “We’ll start July off in a better way. We always have to look at the next day and not worry about what took place last month or yesterday. It’s about continuing to try to get better each and every day.”
Notes on the game.
Jayson Nix is day to day with an injured right hamstring. He hurt the hamstring running out a double in the ninth inning of the 10-4 win on Monday. Alberto Gonzalez started in his place on Tuesday and made the most of his start, getting 3 RBIs and making a dazzling defensive play.
David Adams snapped an 0-32 skid on Tuesday with a single to center field in the fifth inning yesterday.
Game kicks off at 8:10 PM (EST) on Yes
