In what sounded like a home game for the Yankees, CC Sabathia was terrific and the Yankees took advantage of rookie Cody Allen in a 3-1 victory over the hapless Indians. The loss pushes the Tribe's losing streak to nine and they're flirting with their second double-digit losing streak in the last month. The Tribe managed just four hits while a lot of Northeast Ohioans were busy watching the Browns game or the opening night of the high school football season.
It looked like it was going to be a rough night for Corey Kluber. He gave up back-to-back doubles to lead off the game with Nick Swisher driving in Derek Jeter for the first run of the game. After that, Kluber walked Robbie Cano, got Mark Teixeira to line out, and then gave up a single to Curtis Granderson to load the bases. Kluber, who entered the game with a 22.50 ERA in the first inning teetered on the brink of disaster, but struck out Eric Chavez and retired Russell Martin on a fly out to end the inning with his team only down by a run.
Kluber scattered nine baserunners over five innings while CC Sabathia made it look incredibly easy for the Yankees. There were some fireworks during the game to supplement the post-game fireworks show. In the second inning, Kluber hit Jeter in the head with a pitch. He clearly wasn't trying to hit him, with a runner on first and one out, but Sabathia sent a message of his own in the fourth. With former teammate Asdrubal Cabrera at the plate, Sabathia threw a purpose pitch behind Cabrera. Both benches were warned. Cabrera responded by hitting a bomb to center field to tie the game at one,
Unfortunately, that was all the Tribe bats could muster. Kluber left after five innings, allowing just that one run. Sabathia was better, going 7.1 innings, punching out nine, and allowing just four hits in his return from the DL. It was Cody Allen that would give up the deathblow to the Indians on the night. Allen allowed an infield single to Jeter, who went to second on an error from Cabrera. Nick Swisher followed with a two-run bomb to right center to break the 1-1 tie. They were the first runs Allen had given up in his 13 appearances.
The Indians went quietly in the seventh and eighth. In the ninth, they gave the few Indians fans in the ballpark some hope. Carlos Santana and Michael Brantley both singled up the middle to put two on with nobody out. Recently recalled Matt LaPorta was at the plate when Soriano threw a wild pitch that sent Brantley, the tying run, into scoring position. LaPorta struck out. Ezequiel Carrera pinch hit for Brent Lillibridge and popped out. Casey Kotchman pinch hit for Shelley Duncan and walked. Jack Hannahan pinch hit for Jason Donald and grounded out to first to end the game.
For the Indians, it was their ninth straight defeat. With the loss, the Tribe fell to 54-71. Cody Allen took the loss, his first career decision. CC Sabathia was the winner, improving to 13-3. Sabathia recorded 12 ground ball outs to go along with his nine punchouts. Rafael Soriano notched save #32.
Stat of the Night: Left handed batters were 0-for-21 against Cody Allen before Nick Swisher took him yard in the 7th.
Player of the Game: Asdrubal Cabrera. He shook off CC's BS to account for the only Indians run of the game.
Tomorrow's Game: Justin Masterson will face off against Hiroki Kuroda at 7:05 p.m.