Sabathia's seven shutout innings, Yankees offense blank Orioles 7-0

After yet another loss last night, the Yankees received more bad news this afternoon. Alex Rodriguez underwent a MRI on Wednesday morning after injuring his hamstring while running to first base on Tuesday night in the fifth inning, and his strained right hamstring was bad enough to land him on the 15-day disabled list. Therefore, without one of their better hitters in the lineup, the Yankees sent CC Sabathia, who arguably has been very consistent this season, to the mound to face off against Baltimore’s Tyler Wilson. The Yankees also continued to start Chase Headley over Ronald Torreyes, a move that has confused many Yankee fans. Pitching was the main issue holding the Yankees back from winning, but now the offense has continued its struggle enough to put the primary blame on them.

Picture Credit: Associated Press/Patrick Semansky

Wednesday, May 4, 2016: New York Yankees 7 @ Baltimore Orioles 0

Winning Pitcher: CC Sabathia (2-2, 3.81 ERA) - 7.0 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K

Losing Pitcher: Tyler Wilson (1-1, 3.04 ERA) - 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 4 K

1st Inning

After Jacoby Ellsbury led off the game with a line drive double to right, Gardner’s fly out to right moved Ellsbury to third. However, Carlos Beltran’s ground ball to first, which should have scored Ellsbury, was fielded by Orioles 1B Caleb Joseph, but instead of going to 1B, he threw home and Ellsbury was out!

Picture Credit: Associated Press/Patrick Semansky

In the bottom of the first, Manny Machado doubled with one out but neither Adam Jones nor Chris Davis could get him home. (Scoreless)

2nd Inning

Yankees went down in order. Nolan Reimold singled, but the Orioles did not threaten. (Scoreless)

3rd Inning

Ellsbury walked with two outs, stole second, and reached third on a passed ball. However, Gardner struck out looking. Manny Machado came up with runners on first and second and none out, but he struck out, and Adam Jones grounded into a 6-4-3 double play and Sabathia got out of the jam. (Scoreless)

4th Inning

With Mark Teixeira on first and one out, Brian McCann grounded into an inning-ending double play. The Orioles did the same, with Mark Trumbo on first and Nolan Reimold at the plate. (Scoreless)

5th Inning

Yankees went down 1-2-3. Jonathan Schoop led the Orioles half of the fifth off with a double, and there were runners on first and third with one out after Ryan Flaherty’s line drive single. However, Sabathia rebounded, striking out Joey Rickard and then getting Manny Machado to line out. Great work by Sabathia to get himself and the team out of the jam without the Orioles scoring. (Scoreless)

6th Inning

After Ellsbury singled with one out, he stole second, and advanced to third on a Gardner line drive single. Then, Carlos Beltran hit a sacrifice fly to center, where Adam Jones bobbled the ball after catching it and while trying to transfer the ball from his glove to his hand, and that allowed Ellsbury to score. After a Teixeira walk, McCann singled, scoring Gardner. The next batter, Starlin Castro, reached after his dribbler in front of the mound resulted in a Tyler Wilson throwing error when he misfired to first, and Mark Teixeira scored.

Picture Credit: Associated Press/Patrick Semansky

Three runs in one inning! Sabathia got Trumbo to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. (Yankees 3-0)

7th Inning
TJ McFarland entered for Wilson and worked around a Ellsbury single without issue. Sabathia ended his night with a 1-2-3 inning, emphatically striking out Caleb Joseph on a slider to end an amazing outing for him. (Yankees 3-0)

8th Inning
After Beltran led off with a double and Teixeira walked, McCann doubled to right into the corner, and both McCann and Teixeira scored! Dylan Bundy came in, but after getting two quick outs, Didi Gregorius singled to make it 6-0. Then, after Chase Headley singled and Ellsbury walked, Bundy hit Gardner in the elbow on a full-count fastball, and the Yankees continued to pile it on to make it 7-0. 

Picture Credit: Associated Press/Patrick Semansky

Kirby Yates entered for Sabathia to start the bottom of the 8th. Yates loaded the bases by allowing a double and two walks. Dellin Betances had to come into a 7-0 game, but Chris Davis struck out on three straight curveballs and Mark Trumbo fouled out. The shutout continued. (Yankees 7-0)

9th Inning
Yankees did not threaten in the ninth. In the bottom of the ninth, Chasen Shreve entered and worked through the ninth without issue. Yankees win 7-0 and ended their six-game losing streak.

Next Game: Thursday, May 5: Yankees (Masahiro Tanaka) @ Orioles (Kevin Gausman)

Article by: Bryan Peng

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