Yankees 3, Indians 1
CLEVELAND -- CC Sabathia Friday night helped his current team snap a losing streak while extending his former team's losing streak as he pitched the New York Yankees to a 3-1 win over the Cleveland Indians.
The victory snapped New York's modest three-game losing streak while extending Cleveland's latest losing streak to nine games.
Nick Swisher's two-run home run in the seventh inning snapped a 1-1 tie, while Sabathia overpowered a Cleveland lineup that has scored just six runs in its last five games.
Sabathia was activated from the disabled list prior to the game, and looked like he'd never missed a start. In exactly 100 pitches Sabathia gave up one run on four hits in 7 1/3 innings, striking out nine and walking one.
In improving his record to 13-3, Sabathia faced the minimum three batters in four of the seven full innings he pitched.
Swisher came within a triple of hitting for the cycle. He doubled in the first inning, singled in the fifth, and pounded a two-run home run off rookie reliever Cody Allen in the seventh inning that was the difference in the game.
Swisher had a chance for the triple to complete the cycle in his last at bat in the ninth inning, but flied out onto the warning track in right field.
The Indians, who have now lost 21 of their last 25 games, couldn't muster much offense against Sabathia and relievers David Robertson and closer Rafael Soriano, who picked up his 32nd save by pitching out of a runners at second and third with no outs jam in the ninth.
Sabathia held the Indians hitless through the first three innings, but that streak was halted when he appeared to retaliate for Derek Jeter getting hit in the batting helmet by Cleveland rookie starter Corey Kluber in the second inning.
Jeter remained in the game, but with New York leading 1-0 and one out in the fourth inning Sabathia, who hadn't allowed a base runner to that point, threw a pitch behind the legs of Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera.
Home plate umpire Fieldin Culbreth issued warnings to both benches, and then Cabrera hit Sabathia's next pitch over the centerfield wall for his 14th home run.
Sabathia was making his first start since Aug. 8. He spent two weeks on the disabled list with an inflamed elbow, but didn't show much rust early. Prior to Cabrera's homer Sabathia retired the first 10 batters he faced without a ball leaving the infield.
Kluber looked rattled in the early going. In the first inning he gave up three hits, including two doubles and a walk, but managed to hold New York to just one run, coming on an RBI single by Curtis Granderson.
NOTES: Yankees reliever Derek Lowe made his first return to Progressive Field since being designated for assignment by the Indians on Aug.2. "Looking back on it, it sucked, but in hindsight, it was the best thing that could have happened. Winning the World Series is the only reason why these guys (the Yankees) play, which is great," said Lowe. ... It appears as though the return of CC Sabathia, who came off the DL and started Friday night, will bump David Phelps from the Yankee rotation. ... First baseman Matt LaPorta was recalled from Triple-A Columbus by the Indians Friday. LaPorta, who hit 18 home runs at Columbus, was in the starting lineup Friday against Sabathia, the player he was traded for in the 2008 trade between Cleveland and Milwaukee. ... Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said he is optimistic two players currently on the DL, designated hitter Travis Hafner (back) and third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall (fractured arm), will appear in games again before the end of the season.
