The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Sabathia wraps up successful stretch for Yankees’ rotation
The New York Yankees would gladly take a week like this from their rotation during the regular season.
CC Sabathia started out with three hitless innings before Baltimore caught up with him in the fourth Saturday in the Orioles’ 5-4 victory.
A day earlier, Masahiro Tanaka pitched into the fifth on what turned into a combined no-hitter by the Yankees against Detroit. On Wednesday, Michael Pineda threw five perfect innings against the Phillies.
“I think it’s going to be pretty good,” Sabathia said of the rotation. “I think we’re going to surprise some people. Obviously, we’ve got the talent. It’s just us putting it together, staying healthy and going out and make a lot of starts.”
Sabathia was in control until Pedro Alvarez hit an RBI single and Chris Johnson connected for a two-run homer. The big lefty struck out five and walked one.
Last Sunday, Sabathia allowed six runs and six hits while getting just two outs against Atlanta.
“Health-wise, the way I’m feeling, the way the ball is coming out, the way I’m commanding the zone, it’s all been pretty good,” Sabathia said.
Sabathia had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in October after going 9-12 with a 3.91 ERA over 30 starts in 2016.
“I thought his stuff was better today,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “I still don’t think it’s where it was at the end of the season. He’s coming off a knee surgery, and we knew that he might be a little bit behind, but he’s catching up.”
Tanaka has been stellar in his four starts, giving up three hits, walking two and striking out 19 over 13 1-3 scoreless innings.
“I feel like I’ve been pitching well this spring training,” Tanaka said through a translator. “On top of that the results have been there. So, that said, I think everything is going on the right track.”
Tanaka is 39-16 with a 3.12 ERA over 75 starts in three seasons with the Yankees, including 14-4 last season in 31 games. He was limited to 44 starts over his first two seasons due to injuries.
Pineda was an enigma last season, going 6-12 with a 4.82 ERA despite striking out 207 over 175 2-3 innings. Opponents hit major league-high .325 against him with two outs (minimum 162 innings).
“We really believe in Michael,” Girardi said. “This guy is really big for us, he really is.”
Luis Severino, the top contender to win one of the two open spots, allowed one run in three innings Tuesday against Tampa Bay.
Bryan Mitchell, the planned fifth starter last season before breaking a bone on his left foot in his final spring training game and then being limited to five late starts, held Toronto to one run over three innings Thursday.
“That’s the closest he’s been to last year that I’ve seen,” Girardi said. “We want to build on that.”
Adam Warren, Chad Green and Luis Cessa are among those also in the rotation competition.
Spring roundup
METS 5, CARDINALS 4 » Tim Tebow hit an opposite- field single off a 95 mph fastball from Cardinals star Michael Wacha. Kevin Plawecki and Juan Lagares homered for New York. Robert Gsellman went five innings and allowed a run on four hits and a walk.
Wacha gave up three runs on five hits and a walk, striking out four over four innings. RED SOX 12, TWINS 5 » AL Cy Young winner Rick Porcello gave up five runs on nine hits and three walks over four innings in his third appearance of the spring. Pablo Sandoval hit two home runs for Boston, Mitch Moreland doubled twice and Dustin Pedroia had two hits.
Brian Dozier got three hits for Minnesota. Starter Ryan Vogelsong gave up two runs on four hits and two walks in three innings.