It didn't take long for the Twins to respond to the Yankees' rally in the top of the sixth. Come the bottom half, everything unraveled for CC Sabathia when there were already two men out. First, Jim Thome drew a walk. Then Michael Cuddyer hit a low line drive to left-center that went in and out of the glove of a diving Brett Gardner. After that, Jason Kubel walked to load the bases, and rookie Danny Valencia drew another walk to push the tying run across the plate.
Twins Vs. Yankees, ALDS Game 1: Danny Valencia’s Bases-Loaded Walk Knots Things Up
Sabathia was able to strike out J.J. Hardy to end the inning, but the lead is gone, courtesy of some uncharacteristic wildness from the Yankees' top ace. Much like Cano and Granderson's hits off Liriano, the walks drawn by the left-handed Thome and the left-handed Kubel stand out as things we wouldn't expect from the pitcher in question. Neither would we expect him to walk a hitter like Valencia. Sabathia appears to have worn down, and with a pitch count of 111, his night is probably finished.
See More:
