Yanks And CC Dominated By Lester And The Red Sox

Believe it or not, there was once a time when New York Yankees fans couldn't wait for CC Sabathia's next start. Nowadays, they just can't wait for it to be over with.

Having a season with very little to cheer about, Sabathia entered Saturday's start against the Boston Red Sox with a 7.15 ERA against them this season.

After starting his day with a promising seven-pitch 1st inning, things went downhill from there as Boston tagged him for five runs in six innings, as the they went on to beat the Yankees, 5-1, Saturday at Fenway Park.

"It's very frustrating, because everybody keeps telling me I'm close, but I don't see it," Sabathia said. "I want results and I know the team wants results. I know the fans want results. It's just tough not being able to deliver."

Boston jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second when Mike Napoli opened the inning with a groundball that third baseman Mark Reynolds sent flying into the Red Sox dugout, putting him on second base. After a walk to Johnny Gomes, a sac-bunt by Daniel Nava moved the runners over, setting up an RBI groundout by Will Middlebrooks.

Things only got worse from CC from there, as he gave up all five of his runs in the 2nd through 5th innings. A David Ortiz double scored a pair of runs in the 3rd, and a Gomes single a couple batters later put the Sox up 3-0.

The Yankees only run of the game came in the 4th inning against Red Sox starter Jon Lester, who was perfect through the first three innings until Curtis Granderson tripled to deep center to open the inning, then came around to score a couple batters later on a groundout by Robinson Cano.

Lester was great for the Red Sox, going eight innings against the Yankees for the second consecutive outing, and it was the third time in his last six starts that he has gone at least eight innings. Lester held the Bombers to just one run on three hits, while walking two and striking out five over 115 pitches.

"Our game plan going into today was going out there and, 'Here it comes,'" Lester said. "You're either going to get me or I'm going to get you. We were able to get some quick outs early on and get on a little bit of a roll from there. You look up and you're in the eighth."

Before finally tossing another scoreless inning in the 6th, CC gave up another pair of runs, one coming on a single by Shane Victorino in the 4th, and then a sac-fly by Nava in the 5th.

Sabathia handed the ball off to Joba Chamberlain to start the 7th. CC, as already mentioned, wasn't very good once against, giving up nine hits for the 7th time this season, while walking four and striking out five on 110 pitches, raising his season-ERA to 4.90 in the process.

"I felt like I was behind everybody and got in some tough counts," Sabathia said. "With a team like they have, when you get behind in some hitters' counts, you're going to give up some hard-hit balls."

"He's had some issues where the ball has cut on him, and that's usually what it is," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He just doesn't locate it. I think his stuff is plenty good enough to control lineups."

Chamberlain tossed 17 pitches while walking two in a scoreless 7th inning, and Matt Daley struck out two batters on 13 pitching in a scoreless 8th inning of his own.

Cano, Alex Rodriguez and Vernon Wells went down in order in the 9th against the Franklin Morales to hand the Yankees their second straight loss, and 5th in their last six games against the Red Sox.

"It's tough when you don't have your stuff against these guys, but you just try to go out and battle and do what I could," Sabathia said. "It wasn't good enough. It hasn't been good enough all year. I've got a few more starts left. Hopefully I can be a lot better."

Alfonso Soriano did not play in this game. He was a late scratch from the lineup because of a sprained right thumb. Click here for the full news story.

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