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Yankees Led To Victory Over Athletics Behind C.C. Sabathia

By Kenneth Teape

May 20, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia (52) pitches the ball against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
May 20, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia (52) pitches the ball against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Yankees got another strong start from C.C. Sabathia off the DL, as they defeated the Oakland Athletics Friday night.

The New York Yankees were able to push their winning streak to three games on Friday night, as they defeated the Oakland Athletics once again. With the win the Yankees have guaranteed themselves at least a split of the four-game series with the Athletics and have pushed their record to 19-22. With the loss, the Athletics have now lost two in a row after winning four straight.

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The Yankees got a boost tonight from veteran C.C. Sabathia, who was making his return from the disabled list because of a groin injury. Sabathia last appeared in a game for the Yankees on May 4th, but picked up right where he left off.

In his last start, Sabathia threw seven shutout innings against the Baltimore Orioles with six strikeouts. Tonight he was just as strong, as he went six innings, surrendering three hits and one walk, resulting in one run, to go with eight strikeouts.

The eight strikeouts were the most for Sabathia this season, and highest total he has had since striking out eight against the Boston Red Sox August 6th, 2015. This makes two strong starts in a row for Sabathia, who is giving the Yankees some much needed production on the mound and pitching deep enough into the game to just hand the ball to the Yankees fearsome trio of Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman.

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Those three were not needed tonight though, as Sabathia threw well and the offense delivered. The Yankees blew the game open in the fourth inning, as they got to the Athletics’ ace, Sonny Gray, for five runs.

Ronald Torreyes delivered the first blow, as he hit his second triple of the season to knock in Aaron Hicks and Didi Gregorius for the first two runs of the game for the Yankees. Torreyes would later score on a wild pitch by Gray, but the Yankees were not done there.

Carlos Beltran would deliver another big blow, as he knocked a double to deep centerfield that scored Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner. It was one of three doubles that Beltran hit on the evening, bringing his total to 11 on the season, as he now has a hit in five of his last six games.

Beltran would add another RBI double in the sixth inning to push the Yankees lead to 6-1. Ellsbury would knock in the final Yankees’ runs of the evening in the ninth inning, hitting his third triple of the season and second one for the Yankees in the game, knocking in Gregroius and Torreyes to give the Yankees eight runs on the night.

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The Yankees will look to keep their winning streak alive tonight when Masahiro Tanaka takes the mound against the Athletics’ rookie left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea.

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