Reds at Yankees
A matchup of ace pitchers will highlight the finale of a three-game
interleague series between the host New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds
on Sunday. Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia will oppose righty Johnny
Cueto, with both pitchers looking to bounce back from their first losses
of the season. The Reds evened the series with a 6-5 victory Saturday,
getting a three-run homer from Joey Votto before holding off a
ninth-inning rally by the Yankees.
New York put an end to one
ugly streak, ending an 0-for-22 drought with runners in scoring position
when Nick Swisher and Jayson Nix delivered RBI singles in the ninth.
Still, the Yankees are only 5-for-53 with runners in scoring position in
the past seven games. The Reds move Chris Heisey into the leadoff spot
Saturday and he had two more hits. Heisey is 10-for-19 in his last six
games.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), YES (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Johnny Cueto (4-1, 1.89 ERA) vs. New York LH CC Sabathia (5-1, 3.77)
Cueto
absorbed his first loss last time out, getting whacked for six runs and
eight hits at Atlanta in a season-low four innings. He had allowed only
one run in his previous three starts. Cueto, who will be making his
fourth straight start on the road, limited the Yankees to one run on two
hits in seven innings last year. Raul Ibanez is 4-for-11 with three
RBIs against Cueto.
Sabathia's bid for the first 6-0 start of his
career was derailed in Baltimore. He struggled with his control,
walking a season-high four, and labored through six innings after going
eight innings in each of his previous four starts. He has excelled
against the Reds, logging a 4-1 record and 2.33 ERA in 11 career starts.
Votto is 2-for-12 with seven strikeouts against the burly lefty.
WALK-OFFS
1. Yankees captain Derek Jeter is riding an eight-game hitting streak.
2. Reds rookie Mike Costanzo had hit first career hit and Jose Arredondo registered his first career save Saturday.
3. Cincinnati improved to 6-5 all-time in interleague play against the Yankees.