CC delivers valiant effort
TORONTO — The Yankees’ youth movement helped energize the team after the trade deadline, sparking a run that got them back into the playoff race.
But as those playoff hopes continued to fade, it was the secondoldest player on the roster that did everything he could go get the Yankees back in the win column Saturday.
CC Sabathia threw seven stellar innings against the Blue Jays Saturday, allowing four hits and three walks, striking out two in a no-decision as the Yankees dropped a 3-0 decision thanks to Jose Bautista’s eighth-inning home run against Tyler Clippard.
“You want to keep putting up zeroes and hopefully we’ll be able to break through,” Sabathia said. “Their guy did a great job today keeping us off balance, and we just couldn’t push a run across.”
Sabathia got a pair of double plays in the first two innings to help him get out of trouble. He allowed two hits in the fourth before retiring Troy Tulowitzki and Melvin Upton Jr., then cruised through the seventh, sitting down nine of 10 over his final three innings. “He did a really good job,” Joe Girardi said. “He had to battle through some innings early on then was able to get deep into the game for us. He pitched really well and gave us a great chance to win.”
Sabathia is putting together a strong finish to what has been an up-and-down season. After opening the year 5-4 with a 2.20 ERA in 11 starts, he went through a rough stretch over his next 11, going 2-6 with a 6.78 ERA. Since Aug. 23, Sabathia is 1-2 with a 2.57 ERA in seven starts. He’s been a victim of hard luck and a lack of run support during that stretch; Saturday marked the third time in those seven starts that the Yankees have been shut out with the southpaw on the mound.
“You have to go out and keep doing your job and hope we can scratch some runs across,” Sabathia said. “It’s been tough lately, but you have the confidence in the guys that we will eventually break out.
“It’s a long season, and you have some ups and downs, but I feel good about the way I’ve been pitching lately.”
With one start remaining this season, Sabathia has already thrown 172.1 innings, his highest total since he threw 211 in 2013. Aside from a 15-day DL stint for a minor groin injury in May, the 36-year-old has been able to take the ball on a regular basis, achieving one of his primary goals for the season.
“It’s something that’s been a huge thing for me the past couple of years, not staying healthy,” Sabathia said. “To be able to stay healthy and be out there and take the ball every fifth day means a lot.”