CC repeats game 1 performance in rout win

CC Sabathia duplicated his stellar game 1 performance, pitching eight strong in the Yankees 10-1 win over the Angels to take a 3-1 lead in the series.

Quick ‘Cap:
Alex Rodriguez’s hot bat turned a little more red during this one, as he added three hits, two RBI and three runs to his outstanding 2009 postseason numbers. With his two-run homer in the fifth, he tied an MLB record of eight consecutive postseason games with an RBI (my roommate tells me, the one who was right about Zack Greinke and the Cy Young).

Melky Cabrera also had himself a night with three hits and four RBI. The only starters without hits were Hideki Matsui and Nick Swisher. Sabathia wasn’t quite as nasty as he was in game 1, but for three days rest, it was a heck of an outing. The only guy who beat him was Kendry Morales, who was responsible for the only Angels run in game 1. Morales cranked a solo shot in the fifth just out of the reach of Cabrera’s leap. Full box score here.

Thoughts:
Once the Yankees got some runs on the board, they didn’t stop. I think home plate umpire Tim McClelland upset Scot Kazmir because he wasn’t getting any low-strike calls. Kazmir exited after four innings, and then the Yankees poured it on. The win puts the Halos in a huge hole for Thursday’s game. A loss would have evened the series, and put all the pressure on the Yankees.

Line of the Night:
Sabathia: 8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K. He hit 95 mph on his 99th pitch on three days rest. Not bad.

Up Next:
The Yankees will look to ice the series on Thursday with A.J. Burnett on the mound.