Homers back CC's gem against Angels

JustinVerlander35 · Jun 5, 2011

During his three seasons with the Yankees, CC Sabathia has become increasingly reliant on his changeup. For batters facing a left-hander whose fastball averages 92 mph, offspeed pitches in the 80s can be devastating.

Sabathia didn't have command of his changeup early on Saturday, but he sorted things out soon enough. With the help of home runs from Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees' ace worked into the ninth inning of the Yankees' 3-2 win over the Angels. Sabathia came within one out of his second complete game of the season but instead settled for his fourth straight start of eight innings or more. Over that stretch, he has allowed seven runs.

"It was huge for me tonight," Sabathia said of his changeup. "The only reason I pitched eight innings tonight was because I was able to get some swings early, get some weak fly balls and some ground balls with that pitch. A couple of years ago, I probably would have been in trouble, not being able to command it if I didn't have it early."

"It just keeps the hitters off-balanced," manager Joe Girardi said. "And they can't sit hard on him. You know you're going to get your share of fastballs off him, but when you have that changeup, it just gets them out front. It gets popups, and that's what he did tonight.

Sabathia (7-3) finished with 107 pitches and said he was helped out by the Angels' aggressive approach. After the Yankees jumped ahead in the sixth, Sabathia needed only 12 pitches to get through the next two innings.

"That was something I was trying to do consciously," Sabathia said. "It was a 3-1 game. I just wanted to go out and try to shut the door. Especially that next inning, get us back in the dugout. They helped me out a lot by swinging early."

"CC was smart," Angels right fielder Torii Hunter said. "He had a lot of offspeed, keeping guys off balance. He still throws 94, 95. He's a smarter pitcher than when I saw him in Cleveland all the time. The last couple years, he's changed. He pitched well. That's why he's one of the best, if not the best, in the game."
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Read More- http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_06_04_nyamlb_anamlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=nyy

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Homers back CC's gem against Angels

JustinVerlander35 Bringin' the Heat

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Homers back CC's gem against Angels

JustinVerlander35 Bringin' the Heat

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