The New York Yankees won their 10th consecutive game Monday, defeating the Atlanta Braves, 6-2, in the opening game of a three-game series at Yankee Stadium. CC Sabathia pitched a complete game and Derek Jeter drove in three runs to lead New York (41-26).
Sabathia (9-3) pitched his first complete game of the season, giving up just two earned runs off seven hits and one walk while striking out 10.
The Yankees last won 10 games in a row from May 7-17 of 2005. All 10 of the Yankees victories have come against teams with winning records, a first in franchise history. New York has won 19 of its last 23 games and is a season-high 16 games over .500.
The Braves took a 2-0 lead, scoring on a Martin Prado ground out in the first inning, and a Michael Bourn RBI single in the top of the fifth. The Yankees quickly turned the game around in the bottom of the inning. Russell Martin hit a ground rule double to score Alex Rodriguez and advance Robinson Cano to third. Martin and Cano scored three batters later off a Derek Jeter single, giving the Yankees a 3-2 lead.
Braves starter Mike Minor (3-5) left the game in the sixth, but not before giving up a leadoff home run to Mark Teixeira. Minor left the mound after 5 2/3 innings having given up four runs, all earned, off four hits and three walks while striking out seven. Teixeira's solo blast was his 12th homer on the year.
Jeter got his third RBI of the night on a single to score Chris Stewart in the seventh inning. Cano capped the Yankees' scoring with his 13th home run of the season in the eighth.
Game 2 of the series is set for 7:05 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Hiroki Kuroda (6-6, 3.43 ERA) will duel Atlanta's Tim Hudson (4-3, 3.90) on the mound.
-- See Pinstripe Alley for more discussion and analysis of the Yankees.