‘Classic CC’ beats White Sox
NEW YORK — CC Sabathia performed a big league first Saturday: consecutive regular season starts of at least five innings, no walks and no more than one hit.
Among Sabathia's more remarkable feats, considering what came between.
“That is classic CC right there,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
Sabathia began his 19th and final big league season with five stellar innings, pinch-hitter Luke Voit came through with a broken-bat RBI single in the seventh and New York one-hit the Chicago White Sox 4-0 Saturday to end a four-game slide.
Sabathia allowed a hit and no other baserunners in his first start since having a stent inserted after blockage was found in an artery from his heart in December. He's the first pitcher ever with five innings, one hit and no walks over back-to-back starts, per the Elias Sports Bureau, although it didn't feel as smooth as it looked.
“I was out there the first inning, I was like, shaking,” said Sabathia, who plans to retire after the season. “Thinking from where I came from in December and actually being back on the mound, it's cool. I was able to kind of harness those nerves.”
Johnny Vander Meer pitched back-to-back no-hitters for Cincinnati in 1938, walking a total of 11 in those two games.
White Sox starter Ivan Nova (0-2) dueled with Sabathia, pitching four-hit ball into the seventh. He was pulled after allowing Gleyber Torres' leadoff single, and the former Yankee right-hander was cheered by some Bronx fans as he walked off.