Sabathia Gives up the Lead Again

Tonight was a night in which CC Sabathia earns his paycheck. He was supposed to go on the mound and shut down a weak Rays offense. He was given a 1-0 lead on a Steve Pearce RBI single and two innings later, surrendered the lead and then some. Sabathia cannot be healthy with the way he has pitched since coming off the disabled list. It's as if he has turned into a completely different pitcher in this span. His fastball is getting hit hard and he cannot throw his off-speed pitches for strikes to save his life. In the inning where he gave up three runs, Sabathia had Carlos Pena where he wanted him but ultimately walked him which set up the rest of the inning for the Rays.

The offense was anemic yet again. Alex Rodriguez provided the Yankees with some life in the eighth inning when he homered deep to left field. That gave the Yankees a one run deficit to make up. However, in the top of the ninth inning, Nunez made a crucial error at shortstop which allowed Tampa Bay's sixth run to score. That play took the wind out of the sails of the Yankee hitters and they went down quietly into the night against Fernando Rodney who notched his forty-third save of the season.

Tomorrow night, the Yankees will attempt to get back onto the winning track as Ivan Nova will make his first start since going on the DL with shoulder inflammation. James Shields will go for the Rays. The Rays have made themselves relevant in the division race yet again as the Yankees fail to tame them in the series opener.