Sabathia crushes Mariners

Associated Press 

CC Sabathia pitched a three-hitter and struck out 10, dominating the Seattle Mariners as usual while leading the Yankees to a 6-3 victory Friday night in New York that stopped Seattle’s seven-game winning streak.

Eric Chavez hit a two-run homer and Curtis Granderson had a two-run single off Kevin Millwood, sending the AL East leaders to their second consecutive win following a 3-9 slide.

Sabathia (11-3) rebounded from a rocky start against the Red Sox with another overpowering performance against his favorite foe. Pitching in the sort of thick humidity that he’s always enjoyed, the big lefty improved to 8-0 with a 1.20 ERA in his past eight starts against the Mariners.

Going into the ninth, Sabathia had given up only Casper Wells’s solo homer with one out in the fourth and Miguel Olivo’s eighth-inning double. He walked Brendan Ryan to start the inning before Dustin Ackley drove his eighth homer deep into the seats in right.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi came out for a quick chat with Sabathia, who retired the next three batters as the crowd of 45,872 chanted ‘‘CC! CC!’’ Sabathia threw 72 of 103 pitches for strikes in his 35th career complete game and second this season. Dating to May 2006, Sabathia has yielded no more than one earned run in nine of 11 starts against Seattle. The last time he faced the Mariners, he whiffed a career-high 14 on July 26 of last season.

Sabathia is 12-4 in 20 career starts against the Mariners, who are managed by his former skipper in Cleveland, Eric Wedge. Russell Martin was behind the plate after backup Chris Stewart caught Sabathia’s previous 16 starts.

Nationals 7-4; Marlins 5-2 — Josh Johnson outpitched Gio Gonzalez in the nightcap and Miami and host Washington split a doubleheader. Washington’s Adam LaRoche and Mark DeRosa each drove in three runs in support of John Lannan in Game 1.

Cardinals 9, Brewers 3 — Rookie righthander Joe Kelly broke a three-start losing streak and drove in the go-ahead run to help host St. Louis snap Milwaukee’s three-game winning streak.

Diamondbacks 4, Phillies 2 — Justin Upton one-upped his older brother, B.J. He hit his 100th career homer shortly before his sibling accomplished the same feat, Ian Kennedy threw six effective innings, and visiting Arizona topped Philadelphia.

Rays 2, Orioles 0 — B.J. Upton hit his 100th career homer to help Tampa Bay shut out Baltimore in St. Petersburg.

Tigers 10, Indians 2 —Prince Fielder homered and drove in four runs, helping Anibal Sanchez win for the first time as host Detroit routed Cleveland.

Braves 4, Astros 1 — Tim Hudson gave up only four hits and no earned runs in 7⅓ innings to remain unbeaten in his career against Houston, and host Atlanta sent the Astros to their worst 32-game stretch (3-29) in franchise history.

Reds 3, Pirates 0 — Mat Latos pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning and hit a two-run homer as host Cincinnati opened a three-game series with a win over Pittsburgh.

White Sox 8, Angels 6 — Alex Rios hit his second homer of the game, connecting for a two-run shot in the 10th inning that lifted host Chicago over Los Angeles.

Rangers 5, Royals 3 — Matt Harrison (13-6) held host Kansas City to two runs and eight hits in 6⅔ innings and Mitch Moreland hit a three-run homer for Texas.

Giants 16, Rockies 4 — Ryan Vogelsong pitched into the seventh inning, Buster Posey homered among his four hits, and San Francisco broke out of an offensive slump to clobber Colorado in Denver.

Padres 3, Mets 1— Carlos Quentin scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning when he knocked the ball out of catcher Josh Thole’s glove, and host San Diego denied R.A. Dickey his 15th victory.

Dodgers 5, Cubs 1 — Chad Billingsley won his third straight start since coming off the disabled list, batterymate A.J. Ellis hit two solo homers and had an RBI single to lead host Los Angeles over Chicago.
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