C.C. Gets Bombed In First Stint With Bombers

ORIOLES 10

YANKEES 5

So much for that $161 million contract, eh? At the very least, C.C. Sabathia got the bad start out of his system, very early in the season. Still, it was not a great day for the Yankees new ace, and not a very good day for the Yankees as they lost to the usually punchless Baltimore Orioles 10-5 in Camden Yards, Monday evening.

Sabathia just didn't have great command at all today. He walked five batters, struck out zero and surrendered six runs on eight hits in just four and a third innings. Call it butterflies. At least Sabathia has an excuse. He is pitching for the Yankees, and he was the biggest free agent signing of the entire off-season by any team. So he must have felt a lot of pressure.

However, if Sabathia is to improve upon this, he will have to get over the pressure of pitching in New York quickly, and, in all likelihood, he will, in due time.

With the Yankees up 1-0 in the third. Ceaser Izturis singled to right off of Sabathia. Later, C.C. walked Brian Roberts and then allowed Adam Jones to triple to right center allowing both runners to score, making it 2-1 Orioles. Nick Markakis would then lift a sacrifice to left to bring in Jones as the third run of the inning.

Finally, in the fifth, it all fell apart for Sabathia. With two runners on, Markakis singled to short to drive home Brian Roberts, making it 4-1. Later, with the bases loaded, Aubrey Huff grounded into a sacrifice to drive home one more run. After Ty Wigginton was intentionally walked to reload the bases, Sabathia proceeded to walk Luke Scott to drive in Markakis, making it 6-1 Baltimore.

Joe Girardi had enough and removed the hefty lefty from the game.

The most encouraging sign by the Bombers today came from the offense. With Alex Rodriguez nursing hip surgery it was very important for both Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada to come out and show that both had something left in the tank at their advanced ages. Both delivered. Posada homered in the sixth to start a two run rally for the Yankees, cutting the Oriole lead to 6-3. In the seventh, with Johnny Damon on first, Matsui blasted a home run to center field to cut the deficit to one single run. That is a good sign for the Bombers, especially if these two guys hit.

But, the Yankee bullpen imploded in the eighth. Izturis blasted a two run shot off of Phil Choke to make it 8-5, and Huff doubled off of Brian Bruney to drive in both Jones and Markakis.

Remember, it is still very early Yankee fans; no need to panic. BOXSCORE.