It's been more than a month since the New York Yankees won with CC Sabathia on the mound. The left-hander looks to change that Wednesday in the finale of a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox.
The Yankees have come up short in each of Sabathia's last five starts and the bulky southpaw is 1-5 with a 6.54 ERA in his past seven trips to the hill. He has allowed 19 runs across his previous three starts, including Friday's 7-2 loss at San Diego.
Sabathia gave up five runs in 5 2/3 innings and is now 9-10 with a 4.78 ERA in 23 starts. He has allowed five or more runs in four straight starts for the first time in his career.
"It obviously makes it more difficult," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of the lefty's recent struggles. "That's the bottom line. We need him to be CC if we're going to make a run."
The former Indian, who is 3-5 in 11 road assignments, has achieved plenty of success against the White Sox from his days in the AL Central, going 18-4 with a 3.63 ERA in 31 starts. One more win would give Sabathia 10 or more in six straight seasons. He has currently reached the 10-win mark in every season except two (2001-present).
Similar to the Yankees and their starter for Wednesday, Chicago has lost each of Hector Santiago's last seven outings. Santiago draws the start versus the Bronx Bombers and is just 0-2 with a 3.67 ERA in the past seven games.
Santiago absorbed a 2-1 loss at Detroit on Friday and pitched well, allowing two runs in seven innings with seven strikeouts and only one walk. He is 3-7 in 26 games (15 starts) overall with a 3.28 ERA and 1-0 with a lofty 9.00 ERA in two relief appearances against the Yankees.
White Sox lefty Chris Sale got himself back into the win column in Tuesday's 3-2 win and allowed one run through 7 1/3 innings. Nate Jones got the final two outs in the eighth inning and Addison Reed worked around a run in the ninth for his 27th save.
"They're the greatest franchise in all of sports, so you got to bring your 'A' game," Sale said of the Yankees.
Paul Konerko, Conor Gillaspie and Alejandro De Aza each had an RBI for the White Sox, who have won two in a row since a season-high 10-game losing streak and are unbeaten so far on their 10-game homestand.
The Yankees have lost three straight and four of five games, and will try to avoid the sweep on Wednesday.
Brett Gardner had the lone RBI for the Yanks and Alex Rodriguez went 1-for-2 in his second game since coming off the disabled list. Rodriguez, of course, is appealing his recent suspension, which goes into effect Thursday.
"I was seeing the ball pretty well tonight," Rodriguez said. "I'm just trying to get my timing down."
Hiroki Kuroda was undefeated in July, but absorbed the loss after he gave up three runs in seven innings.
After Wednesday's game New York will return to the Bronx for seven straight games against Detroit and the LA Angels.
The White Sox have won five straight against the Yankees for the first time since the 2000 season. Chicago swept a three-game set in this series at home last Aug. 20-22.
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