After losing the first three games of the series to the Chicago White Sox, the Yankees pulled out a well-earned 8–5 victory on Sunday afternoon and left Chicago much relieved having avoided the sweep.
The Yankees also ended the White Sox’s five-game home winning streak and continued their dominance over Chicago ace Mark Buehrle, who hasn’t had much success against the Yankees (1–5 record coming into the game).
But Buehrle was not to be taken lightly, especially after setting a major-league record for retiring 45 batters in a row and throwing a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 23.
This game was billed a classic matchup between C.C. Sabathia and Mark Buehrle, but it was actually an unsung hero for New York who would earn the spotlight—center fielder Melky Cabrera who hit for the cycle.
In the second inning, Cabrera made the biggest impact in the game with a three-run homerun, driving in teammates Nick Swisher and Robinson Cano.
With the Yanks up 3–0, the White Sox answered in the third inning with an RBI from third baseman Gordon Beckham and back-to-back home runs from Jermaine Dye and Jim Thome.
After giving up back-to-back home runs, Sabathia calmed down and got back into his rhythm while his teammates came together offensively.
In the top of the fourth, Cabrera doubled and was brought home by Jose Molina with an RBI single. Molina was then driven home by Johnny Damon.
In the top of the fifth, Cabrera recorded his fourth RBI of the game, singling to center, sending Nick Swisher to second and driving in Alex Rodriguez.
After A-Rod scored, Swisher was brought in off a single to shallow right center by Jerry Hairston Jr.
After that flurry of offense and with the Yanks up 7–4, Chicago tried to make things interesting.
After giving up a ground-rule double to Gordon Beckham in the bottom of the eighth, C.C. Sabathia left the game and was relieved by Phil Hughes.
Hughes got the second out of the inning with a strikeout of first baseman Paul Konerko but walked the next batter, Jim Thome, prompting Joe Girardi to go to Mariano Rivera.
Usually a sure thing, on his first pitch Rivera gave up a single to left fielder Carlos Quentin cutting the Yankees lead to 7–5.
With tensions rising at the top of the ninth, Cabrera tripled off Chicago reliever Scott Linebrink, the last and most difficult piece of the puzzle to hit for the cycle.
With Cabrera on third, Linebrink intentionally walked Hideki Matsui and Cody Ransom pinch ran.
With two on base, the stage was set for Derek Jeter who came up huge and drove in Cabrera.
With the Yanks up 8–5, Rivera shut down the Chicago bats and sealed the victory for New York. It was his 30th save in 31 chances.
Despite hitting for the cycle, Cabrera can only remain humble, as he’ll have to keep fighting for his job.
And as for the much-anticipated pitching duel, Buehrle didn’t have it on Sunday and Sabathia struggled early on as well. But after giving up back to back home runs C.C. grinded it out for seven innings and did what he had to do to get the win, his 11th of the season.
Buerhle got tagged with his second straight loss after the perfect game.
With the win the Yankees stayed in first place in the AL East, a half game up on the Red Sox, who have now won four in a row.
The Yankees also ended the White Sox’s five-game home winning streak and continued their dominance over Chicago ace Mark Buehrle, who hasn’t had much success against the Yankees (1–5 record coming into the game).
But Buehrle was not to be taken lightly, especially after setting a major-league record for retiring 45 batters in a row and throwing a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 23.
This game was billed a classic matchup between C.C. Sabathia and Mark Buehrle, but it was actually an unsung hero for New York who would earn the spotlight—center fielder Melky Cabrera who hit for the cycle.
In the second inning, Cabrera made the biggest impact in the game with a three-run homerun, driving in teammates Nick Swisher and Robinson Cano.
With the Yanks up 3–0, the White Sox answered in the third inning with an RBI from third baseman Gordon Beckham and back-to-back home runs from Jermaine Dye and Jim Thome.
After giving up back-to-back home runs, Sabathia calmed down and got back into his rhythm while his teammates came together offensively.
In the top of the fourth, Cabrera doubled and was brought home by Jose Molina with an RBI single. Molina was then driven home by Johnny Damon.
In the top of the fifth, Cabrera recorded his fourth RBI of the game, singling to center, sending Nick Swisher to second and driving in Alex Rodriguez.
After A-Rod scored, Swisher was brought in off a single to shallow right center by Jerry Hairston Jr.
After that flurry of offense and with the Yanks up 7–4, Chicago tried to make things interesting.
After giving up a ground-rule double to Gordon Beckham in the bottom of the eighth, C.C. Sabathia left the game and was relieved by Phil Hughes.
Hughes got the second out of the inning with a strikeout of first baseman Paul Konerko but walked the next batter, Jim Thome, prompting Joe Girardi to go to Mariano Rivera.
Usually a sure thing, on his first pitch Rivera gave up a single to left fielder Carlos Quentin cutting the Yankees lead to 7–5.
With tensions rising at the top of the ninth, Cabrera tripled off Chicago reliever Scott Linebrink, the last and most difficult piece of the puzzle to hit for the cycle.
With Cabrera on third, Linebrink intentionally walked Hideki Matsui and Cody Ransom pinch ran.
With two on base, the stage was set for Derek Jeter who came up huge and drove in Cabrera.
With the Yanks up 8–5, Rivera shut down the Chicago bats and sealed the victory for New York. It was his 30th save in 31 chances.
Despite hitting for the cycle, Cabrera can only remain humble, as he’ll have to keep fighting for his job.
And as for the much-anticipated pitching duel, Buehrle didn’t have it on Sunday and Sabathia struggled early on as well. But after giving up back to back home runs C.C. grinded it out for seven innings and did what he had to do to get the win, his 11th of the season.
Buerhle got tagged with his second straight loss after the perfect game.
With the win the Yankees stayed in first place in the AL East, a half game up on the Red Sox, who have now won four in a row.
