A’s Shut Out Yankees In The Bronx

It took about three hours for the A’s to officially put away the Yankees tonight, although in retrospect they could have called the game after the first pitch.

C.C. Sabathia surrendered a solo home run to Adam Rosales on the first pitch of the ball game, which was enough for A’s starter A.J. Griffin, who out-dueled the Yankees’ ace in the Bronx, 2-0.

Griffin held an injury plagued Yankees line-up scoreless over 7 innings, striking out 4 and allowing 6 hits. Sabathia struggled with his pitch count and had to leave after 6 innings of two run ball. In addition to the lead off shot, C.C. also allowed Yoenis Cespedes to score on a single by Derek Norris in the 6th.

If there was an MVP for the Yankees in the loss it was Adam Warren, who threw three scoreless innings in relief. The outing was especially important given today’s news that David Robertson won’t be available until next week with soreness in his knee, further depleting a bullpen that lost Joba Chamberlain the day before.

In the ninth Grant Balfour struck out Eduardo Nunez to secure a one out save and end the ball game.