TORONTO, Tuesday 28th September 2010
For the New York Yankees, the season is just starting.
The Yankees clinched their 15th postseason berth in the last 16 years and CC Sabathia got his 21st win of the season, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 6-1 on Tuesday night.
Fast Facts
• The Yankees clinched their 49th postseason berth with just their second win in their past seven games.
• New York scored all six of its runs without an RBI hit. The Yankees scored via three sacrifice flies, two fielder’s choice groundouts and a walk.
• Derek Jeter had his sixth multi-hit night in his last 14 games.
• For the third time this month, CC Sabathia allowed three hits or fewer while pitching at least eight innings. The last Yankees pitcher to do that was Jimmy Key in April 1993.
• The Blue Jays hit their 244th home run of the season Tuesday, tying the franchise mark.
“It’s just a first step,” first baseman Mark Teixeira said. “No one in here is satisfied with this season. Everyone knows it’s World Series championship or bust.”
Derek Jeter scored three runs and drove in another for the Yankees, who have reached the postseason every year but one since 1995. New York missed the playoffs in 2008, finishing behind Tampa Bay and Boston.
The Tampa Bay Rays, who hold a half-game lead over the Yankees in the AL East, clinched a playoff berth Tuesday, beating Baltimore 5-0.
Sabathia (21-7) allowed one run and three hits in 8 1/3 innings to match Andy Pettitte’s 21 wins in 1996 and 2003 for the most by a Yankee since Ron Guidry went 22-6 in 1985.
“Two words: Cy Young,” outfielder Nick Swisher said of Sabathia. “No doubt, man. He’s been a horse all year long, he’s done a tremendous job.”
The left-hander, who walked two and struck out eight, is 9-3 in 12 career starts against Toronto, including 5-1 with a 2.39 ERA in six starts at Rogers Centre.
“You can’t say enough about CC,” Alex Rodriguez said. “I’m speechless when it comes to him. The minute he put on the pinstripes he’s been everything that we’ve expected and a lot more. He’s been a dream for our franchise.”
Mariano Rivera got the final two outs for the Yankees, who kept their on-field celebration muted before retiring to the clubhouse for a brief speech from manager Joe Girardi.
“I congratulated them and just told them this is the first step,” Girardi said. “There’s a lot of work to be done.”