Ethel Lindley: CC Sabathia, Yankees Shut Down Indians

Derek Jeter Big Hit

CLEVELAND (AP) — CC Sabathia took out any anger for being snubbed as an All-Star by striking out 11 in seven shutout innings, Curtis Granderson homered twice and Derek Jeter moved closer to 3,000 career hits as the New York Yankees roughed up the Cleveland Indians 9-2 on Tuesday night.

Jeter went 2 for 6 and now has 2,996 hits, leaving him four shy of becoming the 28th major leaguer — and first Yankee — to reach 3,000.

Sabathia (12-4) allowed five hits, walked two and overpowered the team that drafted him in 1998 and traded him 10 years later. Despite leading the league in wins and going 9-1 in his last 10 starts, Sabathia was left off the AL roster for the July 12 All-Star game in Phoenix.

Granderson hit a two-run homer in the second and solo shot in the fourth off Carlos Carrasco (8-5), who lasted just four innings.

Sabathia hasn't publicly complained about his All-Star omission, but the left-hander has to wonder what else he has to do to make the squad. He dominated the Indians, who put two runners on to start the fifth before Sabathia struck out the side. He also struck out three in the fourth and seventh, and has 33 Ks in his last 22 2-3 innings.

Sabathia saved New York's bullpen, which was without closer Mariano Rivera. He missed his second straight game because of a sore triceps muscle and hopes to be back for the series finale.

Indians All-Star shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera left in the fourth with a sprained right ankle. The team said Cabrera, who rolled his ankle after making a leaping throw in the third, is day to day.

Jeter returned to the lineup on Monday after missing three weeks with a calf injury. He went 0 for 4 in his return, but looked more like one of the game's superstars in his second game.

The Yankees' captain singled in his first at-bat, hitting a slow roller toward third that Orlando Cabrera charged but couldn't make a barehanded pickup as Jeter barreled down the line. In the second, Jeter doubled home two runs off Carrasco, who had pitched seven shutout innings against New York on June 13.

Jeter also made a nice defensive play in the sixth, stabbing a grounder behind second before making a spin and throw to first to get Orlando Cabrera.

Granderson's two-run homer in the second made it 5-0, and the slight but powerful center fielder led off the fourth with his 25th homer. He's just the fifth Yankee in the past 50 years to hit at least 25 homers before the break, joining Mark Teixeira (25, this season), Alex Rodriguez (30 in 2007), Tino Martinez (28 in 1997) and Jason Giambi (27 in 2006 and 26 in 2003).

Jeter's two-run double highlighted the Yankees' five-run second off Carrasco, who nearly worked his way out of the big inning without giving up anything.

New York loaded the bases with one out before Carrasco got No. 9 hitter Francisco Cervelli to hit a tailor-made, inning-ending double play ball to shortstop. Asdrubal Cabrera flipped it to second for the force, but second baseman Cord Phelps threw a one-hopper that first baseman Carlos Santana couldn't handle.

One run scored on the play, and instead of being in the dugout, Carrasco had to face Jeter, who made it 3-0 by lacing a two-run double into the gap in left-center.

Granderson followed with his 24th homer, a liner that just cleared the wall in the right-field corner.

In the third, Asdrubal Cabrera backhanded Cervelli's grounder in the hole before making the jumping throw to second and landing awkwardly. He was checked by trainer Lonnie Soloff and manager Manny Acta but remained in the game. However, Acta pulled him for a pinch-hitter in the fourth.

Cabrera came in batting .293 with a career-high 14 homers and 49 RBIs in 83 games. He has also made several spectacular fielding plays and Sunday was named an AL All-Star for the first time.

The Indians can't afford to be without him for very long. They've been hit hard by injuries, with Travis Hafner, Grady Sizemore, Shin-Soo Choo and pitcher Fausto Carmona missing time.

NOTES: Sabathia has 25 career double-digit strikeout games. ... The Indians are expected to activate 1B Matt LaPorta from the disabled list. He's been out since June 18 with a sprained right ankle. ... Acta will also name a starter for Thursday against Toronto to take Carmona's spot. Carmona has a strained thigh and will miss one start. Zach McAllister, 8-3 at Triple-A Columbus, is a likely candidate to make his major league debut. ... Yankees RHP Rafael Soriano, on the DL with right elbow inflammation, threw a bullpen session of only fastballs. Manager Joe Girardi said Soriano could return later this month. ... Yankees 3B Eric Chavez, in Florida rehabbing his bad back, was sent to New York after sustaining an abdominal strain. ... The Indians believe rookie RHP Alex White will pitch again this season. He's back in Cleveland being examined by doctors. White was impressive in three starts before hurting his finger.

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