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DETROIT, MI - APRIL 9: Starting pitcher CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees throws in the second inning during a MLB game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on April 9, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)

Yankees Game 5: CC goes 6 and offense adds 2 HR in win

New York Yankees 8 – Detroit Tigers 4

With the fifth starter on the mound, the Yankees witnessed their deepest start of 2016.

In the first inning, Alex Rodriguez greeted Tigers starter Mike Pelfrey with a booming blast, a solo home run to deep left center field to put the Yankees ahead early. On the other side, CC Sabathia won the fifth spot in the rotation and it looked justified with three perfect innings.

The Yankees added a second run in the second inning and erupted for more offense in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded in the fourth inning, Didi Gregorius produced a sacrifice fly, extending the Yankees lead to three. The bases were loaded a second time in the inning and Jacoby Ellsbury raced to clear them all with a deep fly ball into the right center gap. When the ball got back to the infield, Ellsbury stood on third with a three-run triple, putting the Yankees ahead by six. In 3 2/3 innings, Mike Pelfrey allowed six runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out three.

For the first three innings, CC Sabathia cruised but he saw a bump in the road despite the sizable lead he had to work with.

Command eluded the Yankees lefty when he walked three of the first four batters he faced to start the fourth inning. Sabathia got the second out with a strikeout of J.D. Martinez but James McCann saved the inning for the Tigers with a two-run single, bringing the Tigers within four. Despite the inability to generate a shut down inning after the four-run top half, the bats picked up Sabathia.

With one on and one out in the fifth inning, Carlos Beltran delivered a moonshot into right field off of reliever Buck Farmer for his second home run of the season, putting the Yankees back ahead by six.

Following the rough fourth inning for Sabathia, the Yankees got two scoreless innings before Sabathia exited after a single led off the seventh inning.

In the longest start by a Yankees starter, CC Sabathia allowed three runs on four hits while walking four and striking out three. In 2016, CC Sabathia was the first Yankees pitcher to pitch into the seventh inning, how about that?

In the seventh inning, reliever Kirby Yates allowed two runs to score and needed an assist from Chasen Shreve to get Miguel Cabrera out to end the inning. Dellin Betances struck out three in the eighth inning and Andrew Miller pitched an efficient eight-pitch ninth inning to split the three-game series in Detroit. Tomorrow night will be the rubber match.

In terms of milestones, Starlin Castro reached his 1,000th hit, a single in the seventh inning. Congratulations to the Yankees second baseman.

 

Win – CC Sabathia (1-0)

Loss – Mike Pelfrey (0-1)

 

Notables

Yankees

*Carlos Beltran – 2 for 4, 2 R, Two-run home run (2) in the 5th, 2 RBI (4)

*Jacoby Ellsbury – 1 for 5, 3B, 3 RBI (4)

Tigers

*James McCann – 1 for 4, BB, 2 RBI (2)

*Ian Kinsler – 1 for 4, R, BB, RBI (5)

 

Current Yankees Record: 3-2