CLEVELAND — C.C. Sabathia took the mound almost certain he needed to pitch a shutout. So he did.
Sabathia (4-8) pitched a five-hitter for his seventh career shutout as the Cleveland Indians defeated Minnesota 1-0, extending the Twins’ season-high losing streak to six games Tuesday night.
“He was outstanding in every way,” Indians manager Eric Wedge said of the 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner. “He was as strong late, if not stronger, than he was early. He’s one of the greatest pitchers in the game.”
Sabathia has received an average of only 2.1 runs a game in his last nine starts, so when Ryan Garko doubled home a first-inning run off Scott Baker (2-1), the left-hander figured he had better make it stand up.
“My job is to keep it close and give us a chance to win,” Sabathia said after pitching Cleveland’s first 1-0 decision over the Twins since Sam McDowell in 1969. “If that means giving up five and we score six, fine. Tonight, though, I felt it was the best I’ve been all year.”
Sabathia didn’t allow a baserunner after the fourth, striking out five without a walk in his second shutout of the season. He blanked Oakland 2-0 on May 14 — but had been 0-3 in four starts since.
“C.C. was the story,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “He shut us down, used all his pitches. I know what his record is this year, but he’s tough. The home plate umpire (Joe West) said that’s the best he’s seen him the last two or three years.”
