Yankees 6, White Sox 5
NEW YORK -- CC Sabathia pitched effectively into the eighth inning, and the New York Yankees completed a three-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox by holding on for a 6-5 victory Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.
Sabathia (13-11) allowed three runs and five hits in 7 1/3 innings while winning for the fourth time in five starts. He improved to 19-4 lifetime against the White Sox. This start was different than some of his previous wins, as he had some of his best stuff of the season most of the night.
Sabathia's night ended after he gave up two singles in the eighth, and he exited to a loud standing ovation from the crowd of 36,082. The Yankees led 6-1 at the time. Sabathia walked four, struck out four and threw 66 of 111 pitches for strikes.
David Robertson gave up a run-scoring single to Avisail Garcia, a two-run single to Josh Phegley and an RBI single to Marcus Semien, who was making his major league debut.
Mariano Rivera came on for a four-out save. He ended the eighth by striking out Alejandro De Aza on a close 3-2 pitch before retiring the side in the ninth for his 41st save.
Robinson Cano hit his 26th home run and added an RBI single for the Yankees, who outscored the White Sox 20-6 after getting swept in Chicago last month.
Lyle Overbay added an RBI double and Brett Gardner contributed an two-run triple as the Yankees won for the 13th time in their last 15 home games. New York improved to 5-1 on a 10-game homestand that continues with a four-game weekend series with the Boston Red Sox.
Alfonso Soriano added a sacrifice fly in the seventh for New York, which moved within two games of the Tampa Bay for the American League's second wild-card spot, pending the outcome of the Rays' night game against the Los Angeles Angels.
Chicago starter Erik Johnson (0-1) made his debut and allowed five runs (three earned) and seven hits in six innings. Regarded as the team's best pitching prospect, Johnson also committed a costly throwing error that aided New York's four-run fourth.
Garcia had a pair of RBI singles for the White Sox, who have dropped five straight.
NOTES: New York RHP Ivan Nova was named AL Pitcher of the Month for August. He will open the four-game series against the Red Sox on Thursday. ... Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez batted sixth for the second time this season, but that was because manager Joe Girardi wanted to split up his team's left-handed bats. Rodriguez went 1-for-3 with a walk. ... According to the Elias Sports Bureau, 1995 was the last time the White Sox had at least three pitchers make their major league debuts as starters before Johnson joined RHP Andre Rienzo and LHP Charlie Leesman this year. In the 144-game, strike-shortened 1995 season, Luis Andujar, James Baldwin, Mike Bertotti, Brian Keyser and Mike Sirotka all made their major league debuts.
