Bronx, NY (Sports Network) – CC Sabathia became baseball’s first 19-game winner with a one-hitter over eight innings as the Yankees completed a four- game sweep of Oakland with a 5-0 win.
Sabathia (19-5) now has a streak of 21 unbeaten starts at home, during which time he’s gone 16-0. The streak dates back to July 18, 2009 and matched the last such longest streak when Ron Guidry posted 16 straight winning decisions at home in 1985-86.
The stout lefty yielded only a Mark Ellis single in the second inning, issued three walks and struck out five to win his sixth straight start dating back to an August 1 loss to Tampa Bay.
New York ran its win streak to six games — the longest such streak since a seven-game run from July 3-9 — while increasing its lead over the idle Rays atop the American League East standings to 1 1/2 games.
Curtis Granderson hit two home runs and drove in three after entering the game in the second inning for Nick Swisher, who developed stiffness in his left knee. Jorge Posada opened the scoring with a solo blast in the second.
It was the Yankees’ first four-game sweep of Oakland since September 5-8, 1985.
Dallas Braden (9-10) pitched well through five-plus innings before leaving with cramping on a hot day at Yankee Stadium that saw temperatures on the field in excess of 100 degrees. The southpaw was charged with only two hits and one run with two walks and four strikeouts.
The Athletics wrapped up a 10-game road trip at 4-6.