Sabathia hits milestone in return as Yankees rout A's
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia outpitched Athletics ace Sonny Gray Friday as New York defeated Oakland for the second straight night at the Oakland Coliseum, winning 8-3.
Sabathia, a Bay Area native, earned his 100th win in New York pinstripes and became the eighth major league player to win 100 games or more with two teams as he won 106 with Cleveland. He struck out eight and walked just one as the Yankees got a much-needed win and an encouraging start from Sabathia in his first game back from the disabled list.
Oakland, reeling from the loss of injured right fielder Josh Reddick (thumb), needed a comeback performance from Gray but got just the opposite. Gray (3-5) lasted just 3 1/3 innings, his shortest outing of the season, and gave up six hits and five runs, while walking four and throwing three wild pitches.
New York designated hitter Carlos Beltran delivered three hits and three RBIs. Left fielder Brett Gardner, shortstop Didi Gregorius and third baseman Ronald Torreyes scored two runs apiece in the rout. Strong pitching and timely hitting added up to an encouraging night for a club trying to climb out of last place.
The Yankees led the Athletics 5-1 through five innings in the second game of a four-game series.
Oakland took a one-run lead in the second on designated hitter Matt McBride's single that knocked in Billy Butler.
Gray held the Yankees in check through three innings, pitching out of trouble in the first and third, when he walked two batters and threw a wild pitch.
But the Yankees struck back in the fourth and capitalized on Gray's sloppiness and some bad Oakland defense.
Torreyes stung the A's ace with a two-run triple. Gray fueled the Yankees' rally with two walks and another wild pitch. Catcher's interference gave New York still another runner, and then Beltran lifted a catchable ball, which center fielder Coco Crisp misplayed, into a two-run double.
That chased Gray from the game, his third start this year that lasted less than four innings. The Yankees batted around and scored five times.
In his first start since coming off the disabled list, Sabathia held Oakland to two hits through the first five innings.
NOTES: Oakland placed OF Josh Reddick on the disabled list after the right fielder fractured his left thumb while stealing second base Thursday against New York. Reddick called the injury "frustrating" and expects to miss 4-to-6 weeks. ... The Athletics have 12 players on the disabled list, the most at one time since at least 1979. ... Yankees LHP CC Sabathia made his first start since returning from the disabled list with a strained groin. ... With two hits Thursday, Yankees 3B Chase Headley has reached base in 11 straight games, a season high. ... After a slow start at the plate, Oakland LF Khris Davis has hit 12 home runs, tied for best in the American League entering Friday. ... New York CF Jacoby Ellsbury leads all major league outfielders in on base percentage at .488. ... The A's have raised their batting average 14 points over their last 14 games to .248.