BOSTON — CC Sabathia didn’t get the victory Friday night in a 3-2 Yankees win over the Red Sox that was dominated by Alex Rodriguez tying Willie Mays for fourth place on the all-time home run list with a game-winning pinch-hit blast.
Nevertheless, it was the first of Sabathia’s five starts this season which the Yankees won. And two runs allowed in six innings certainly contributed to the win.
“It’s the first time I’ve pitched when we’ve won, so that’s good,’’ said Sabathia, who left with the score tied 2-2 and watched Rodriguez’s milestone blast make a winner out of Esmil Rogers.
Like everybody else in the Yankees’ clubhouse, Sabathia was asked about Rodriguez’s big night.
“Even better, it got us a win. His numbers all around are amazing. Almost 3,000 hits on top of the home runs,’’ Sabathia said. “Obviously he’s been one of the best players in the game for a long time. I’m just glad he’s on my team.’’
Mark Teixeira was hit on the right wrist in the seventh inning and stayed in the game. However, that’s the same wrist Teixeira had surgery on in 2013.
“He is OK, he hit again,’’ manager Joe Girardi said. “Hopefully, he is not sore [Saturday]. I will wait and see.’’
Chris Capuano is slowly working his way back into the consciousness of Yankees decision makers.
Out since early in spring training with a strained right quadriceps, the lefty starter is scheduled to throw four innings and 60 pitches Saturday for Single-A Tampa on a rehab assignment.
“Everything he is doing is going in the right direction,’’ Girardi said of the 36-year-old, who signed a one-year deal for $5 million in the offseason. “You think about 60 [pitches], 75, 90 and then you go from there.’’
Capuano’s injury opened a spot in the rotation that Adam Warren won over Bryan Mitchell and Chase Whitley. Now, with Masahiro Tanaka on the shelf with a strained right forearm and tendinitis in his right wrist, Whitley is in the rotation.
However, when Capuano returns, he will re-enter the rotation and dislodge Warren, or more likely, Whitley.
Garrett Jones started at DH for the third time Friday night and the sixth game overall.
“When we envisioned him we envisioned him DHing some, maybe playing a little first and a little outfield,’’ Girardi said. “With Alex swinging the bat so well in April it’s been kind of tough for Garrett.’’
Jones went 0-for-3 before being lifted for Rodriguez.
Wagner College product Andrew Bailey has suffered a setback in his attempt to get back to the big leagues for the first time since 2013.
Bailey, who threw very well in spring training, suffered a strain in his right shoulder, on which he underwent tricky surgery in 2013 that cost him all of 2014.
“It has to be extremely frustrating for him because everything we saw in spring training was positive,’’ Girardi said. “I won’t forget that day he pitched when we went over to play the Braves. How excited he was to be out there and how excited all of us were for him. Hopefully it’s a mild setback.’’
In six games for Single-A Tampa, Bailey was 2-0 with a 5.40 ERA. He fanned seven and walked one in five innings.