CC Sabathia, the New York Yankees big lefthander, pitched another stellar game and, in the process, became the major league's first 10-game winner this season. Sabathia (10-4) pitched eight dazzling innings in the Yankees 8-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
Alex Rodriguez chipped in with a couple of singles and 3 RBI's. A-Rod also started a rally-killing double play in the 6th inning that was the only threat Colorado posed to CC all day.
Sabathia tortured the Colorado batters with a fastball consistently in the 96-97 mph range but it was his perfect slider which left the Rockies shaking their heads. Five of Sabathia's nine strikeouts were of the little burger's namesake.
The big guy also came through in the clutch. The befuddled Rockies hitters were 2-15 with runners on base. Sabathia finished the game allowing only one run, one walk and seven hits to go with the nine K's.
Sabathia has been consistent all season. After a couple of early-season no-decisions, the victory today gave the 2007 Cy Young winner his seventh win in his last eight starts. He is a sure bet to make the All-Star game.
The win also gives Sabathia his 50th victory in pinstripes in 85 starts. The leftie matches Chien-Ming Wang as the fastest Yankee pitcher to reach that total in thirty years.
Manager Joe Girardi couldn't stop singing the praise of his workhorse starter.
"CC has won 50 games in the 2 1/2 seasons he's been here," marveled the manager. "That's just in the regular season."
This year, Sabathia is continuing that trend. He has a 3.25 ERA with 93 strikeouts and has allowed 119 hits in 122 innings.
"CC's a great guy to be around," said Girardi. "He's the same guy every day. He works quick and teammates like to play behind a pitcher who is quick."
It's also no coincidence that, as the Yankees beat up on the National League during their current intra-league jag, A-Rod has been lighting up every ballpark since Wrigley. The aching third baseman is on a blazing hot streak and has 10 hits in his last five games while batting a sizzling .556 during that span. Currently, A-Rod is the only .300 hitter in the Yankees line-up.
A-Rod also reached base in the seventh on a missed communication between the Rockies' Chris Nelson and Eric Young in shallow right field.
When asked why he pulled Rodriguez in the eighth, Girardi claimed it wasn't for anything more serious than sore legs.
"A-Rod's a little beat-up," answered Girardi. "He's been sore since Chicago."
Sabathia also put an end to Troy Tulowitzki's New York City home-run streak. The Rockies shortstop hit four dingers against the Mets in Flushing last week before jacking one last night against the Yankees in the Bronx. He was the first visiting player to homer in five straight games since Ernie Banks.
Mark Teixeira chipped in with his 22nd home-run of the season in the eighth.
The Yankees are now 44-31 and could take over first place in the AL East if the Boston Red Sox lose tonight.
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