CC Sabathia walked four Tigers in the first two innings. Thanks to two double plays, he didn’t give up any runs. It also helped a lot that the walks weren’t accompanied by any hits.
CC Sabathia’s Walked 2011-Most Five Tigers Already
After giving up a leadoff double to Brandon Inge in the third, Sabathia made it five walks when Austin Jackson drew a free pass after he failed to lay down a bunt.
In case you’re wondering, Sabathia had not walked more than four hitters in a game in nearly two full seasons; on the 22nd of April in 2010, Sabathia walked six Athletics. He lost that game, but did pitch a complete game, going eight innings in the Yankees’ 4-2 loss.
He’s definitely heading for six, and he’s also thrown a lot of pitches already. The last of them (so far) resulted in an RBI single for Ramon Santiago after he failed to lay down a sacrifice bunt.
Neither Sabathia nor Verlander have been sharp in the early going, and you have to wonder if the disruption to their routines -- both pitched briefly in the rain-suspended Game 1 -- is playing a role in these strange doings.
Yankees 2, Tigers 1 with nobody out in the bottom of the third.
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