Special_K19
05-17-2003, 05:50 PM
Sabathia feels like a winner despite no-decision
05/17/03
Dennis Manoloff
Plain Dealer Reporter
C.C. Sabathia is among the premier two-victory pitchers in the majors.
Sabathia turned in a splendid performance last night against potent Oakland in Jacobs Field, allowing two runs on four hits in seven innings, but departed with his fifth no-decision in nine starts.
The Indians scored once in the eighth to take a 3-2 lead, which held up. Billy Traber earned his first victory, Danys Baez his seventh save.
As is his custom, Sabathia sequestered himself in the clubhouse after leaving the game. He learned from the clubbies that the Tribe had taken the lead.
"I can't watch," he said. "I had confidence we'd pull it out."
The no-decision meant Sabathia remained 2-2 while his ERA dropped to a highly respectable 3.00. The low victory total has come despite six quality starts (six or more innings, three or fewer earned runs) and no more than four runs allowed in any outing.
"I'm not worried about my record," said Sabathia, who has worked at least seven innings six times. "Really, I'm not. If I can keep pitching like I did tonight and get more no-decisions, but we win the games, I'll be happy. The only numbers I care about are team wins, and I'm really excited about this one."
Sabathia, who helped the Tribe improve to 13-27, walked two and struck out eight - a season high for an Indians pitcher. He threw 111 pitches, 74 for strikes.
"You've got to throw strikes against that team," he said.
The only blemishes against him were homers by Ramon Hernandez in the second and by reigning MVP Miguel Tejada in the sixth. Tejada's rope over the wall in left gave the Athletics a 2-0 advantage.
"Hernandez hit a change-up down," Sabathia said. "It was a good pitch, so give him credit. I'd make that pitch again. Tejada hit a mistake. I was trying to throw a fastball in and left it over the plate."
Sabathia's off-speed pitches - specifically, the slider and change-up - complemented mid-90s heat. The repertoire allowed him to stare down Athletics left-hander Mark Mulder, one of the game's best.
Mulder pitched well enough, but suffered the loss. He gave up three runs on seven hits in eight innings. Mulder (6-2, 2.65) has pitched complete games in four of his last five starts.
"I think about the lineup I'm facing, not the other pitcher," Sabathia said.
Traber and Baez picked up on the strike-throwing theme presented by Sabathia, each throwing a hitless inning and striking out two. Traber threw nine of 13 pitches for strikes; Baez was eight of 11.
05/17/03
Dennis Manoloff
Plain Dealer Reporter
C.C. Sabathia is among the premier two-victory pitchers in the majors.
Sabathia turned in a splendid performance last night against potent Oakland in Jacobs Field, allowing two runs on four hits in seven innings, but departed with his fifth no-decision in nine starts.
The Indians scored once in the eighth to take a 3-2 lead, which held up. Billy Traber earned his first victory, Danys Baez his seventh save.
As is his custom, Sabathia sequestered himself in the clubhouse after leaving the game. He learned from the clubbies that the Tribe had taken the lead.
"I can't watch," he said. "I had confidence we'd pull it out."
The no-decision meant Sabathia remained 2-2 while his ERA dropped to a highly respectable 3.00. The low victory total has come despite six quality starts (six or more innings, three or fewer earned runs) and no more than four runs allowed in any outing.
"I'm not worried about my record," said Sabathia, who has worked at least seven innings six times. "Really, I'm not. If I can keep pitching like I did tonight and get more no-decisions, but we win the games, I'll be happy. The only numbers I care about are team wins, and I'm really excited about this one."
Sabathia, who helped the Tribe improve to 13-27, walked two and struck out eight - a season high for an Indians pitcher. He threw 111 pitches, 74 for strikes.
"You've got to throw strikes against that team," he said.
The only blemishes against him were homers by Ramon Hernandez in the second and by reigning MVP Miguel Tejada in the sixth. Tejada's rope over the wall in left gave the Athletics a 2-0 advantage.
"Hernandez hit a change-up down," Sabathia said. "It was a good pitch, so give him credit. I'd make that pitch again. Tejada hit a mistake. I was trying to throw a fastball in and left it over the plate."
Sabathia's off-speed pitches - specifically, the slider and change-up - complemented mid-90s heat. The repertoire allowed him to stare down Athletics left-hander Mark Mulder, one of the game's best.
Mulder pitched well enough, but suffered the loss. He gave up three runs on seven hits in eight innings. Mulder (6-2, 2.65) has pitched complete games in four of his last five starts.
"I think about the lineup I'm facing, not the other pitcher," Sabathia said.
Traber and Baez picked up on the strike-throwing theme presented by Sabathia, each throwing a hitless inning and striking out two. Traber threw nine of 13 pitches for strikes; Baez was eight of 11.