Sabathia Blows Lead for Yankees in Baltimore

northjersey.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

June 28^th, 2013

New York Yankees vs Baltimore Orioles

Final Score: Yankees 3 Orioles 4

The New York Yankees were unable to start their series against the division rival Baltimore Orioles on a good note losing 4-3. The loss moves the Yankees to (42-37) on the season, and are now 5.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox for first place in the AL East.

The offense for the Yankees got to T.J McFarland early to chase him out of the game after just going 2.2 innings. McFarland gave up three runs on seven hits, and one walk before his early exit. Robinson Cano got the Yankees on the board in the first inning with an RBI base hit that scored Brett Gardner, who was on base after a lead off double. The Yankees would knock McFarland out of the game before finishing the third inning, as Vernon Wells had a RBI base hit which scored Jayson Nix, and then Chris Stewart had a RBI base hit that scored Robinson Cano. The third inning however would be the last time the Yankees scored on Friday night.

Baltimore's bullpen was fantastic after McFarland left, as Kevin Gausman came in first and logged 4.1 shutout innings, allowing just three hits, and he struck out four batters to earn his first win of the year. Tommy Hunter earned his second save of the season, as he pitched in the eighth and ninth innings, allowing just one hits, and had three strikeouts.

Yankees Starter C.C. Sabathia looked like he was going to be cruising towards win number 200 for his career with a lead, and not allowing a hit or walk in the first five innings, but after that it all unraveled for Sabathia. Manny Machado knocked in the Orioles first two runs with and RBI double, which was his 37^th of the season, and it scored Nate McLouth and Alexi Casilla. Adam Jones would hit an infield single to score Machado to tie the game at three. Nate McLouth would have the eventual game winning hit in the seventh inning off Sabathia with a solo-home run, which was his fifth of the year, and gave the Orioles the 4-3 lead. The loss is Sabathia's sixth of the season, and his ERA is still north of four, which is far from the ace stats the Yankees need from him. Sabathia's frustrations were clear and apparent, as after the seventh inning he threw his glove probably harder than any of his fastballs have gone all year into the bench.

In Game 2 of the series David Phelps (5-4, 4.01) will be getting the start against Zach Britton (1-2, 5.51).