The New York Yankees (84–50) swept their four-game series against the Oakland Athletics (65–68) on Thursday afternoon, running over the A’s 5–0 with CC Sabathia delivering an ace pitching performance.
Sabathia (19–5) threw five strikeouts in eight innings, keeping a bewildered A’s squad to just one hit—a single by second baseman Mark Ellis in the second inning—to maintain his top spot in MLB wins.
“It’s as good as it gets,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
Curtis Granderson led the offensive charge as a sub-in for Nick Swisher after Swisher left after the first inning with a sore knee. Granderson hit two home runs for three RBI’s in the sixth and seventh innings respectively.
Jorge Posada also hit a homer, getting the Yankees on the board in the second inning—a good return from his eighth inning ejection on Wednesday.
It was a sunny, sweltering afternoon in the Bronx, but that didn’t bother the veteran lefty Sabbathia.
“I’ve always enjoyed pitching in hot weather,” Sabathia told the Associated Press. “Keep the sweat going, keep my arm loose.”
Sabbathia reached the 19-win mark once before back in 2007 with the Cleveland Indians, and could make it a career-high 20 wins as early as next week against the Baltimore Orioles at home.
“It’d be cool,” Sabbathia said of 20 wins. “[But] we’re still trying to wrap up the division. It’s hard to think about personal accomplishments.”
The Yankees had gone nearly two months without a series sweep. Their last was also against Oakland back in early July.
New York is now 1.5 games ahead of their AL East rivals the Tampa Bay Rays, who they will face in a three and four-game series later this month to likely seal either the top division spot or the wildcard.
Sabathia (19–5) threw five strikeouts in eight innings, keeping a bewildered A’s squad to just one hit—a single by second baseman Mark Ellis in the second inning—to maintain his top spot in MLB wins.
“It’s as good as it gets,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
Curtis Granderson led the offensive charge as a sub-in for Nick Swisher after Swisher left after the first inning with a sore knee. Granderson hit two home runs for three RBI’s in the sixth and seventh innings respectively.
Jorge Posada also hit a homer, getting the Yankees on the board in the second inning—a good return from his eighth inning ejection on Wednesday.
It was a sunny, sweltering afternoon in the Bronx, but that didn’t bother the veteran lefty Sabbathia.
“I’ve always enjoyed pitching in hot weather,” Sabathia told the Associated Press. “Keep the sweat going, keep my arm loose.”
Sabbathia reached the 19-win mark once before back in 2007 with the Cleveland Indians, and could make it a career-high 20 wins as early as next week against the Baltimore Orioles at home.
“It’d be cool,” Sabbathia said of 20 wins. “[But] we’re still trying to wrap up the division. It’s hard to think about personal accomplishments.”
The Yankees had gone nearly two months without a series sweep. Their last was also against Oakland back in early July.
New York is now 1.5 games ahead of their AL East rivals the Tampa Bay Rays, who they will face in a three and four-game series later this month to likely seal either the top division spot or the wildcard.
