CC Sabathia Records 3,000 Strikeouts But New York Drops Opener In The Desert To Arizona
Two things happened in the opener of a two game set between New York and Arizona the thirty eight year old veteran left-hander CC Sabathia who is from the West Coast ( Vallejo, CA) and is playing his last season in the Major Leagues recorded his 3,000 strikeout. Wow! Congratulations CC Sabathia ! As for the result of the game though New York dropped the opener to Arizona.
It took five pitches to D-backs catcher and former Yankees player John Ryan Murphy in the second inning and more than 18 seasons in the big leagues for Sabathia to join the exclusive group and etch his name among the greatest pitchers to ever play the game. The 17th member of the 3,000-strikeout fraternity, Sabathia is only the third left-handed pitcher behind Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton to accomplish the feat. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-records-3-000th-strikeout
He is also the third black pitcher after Ferguson Jenkins and Bob Gibson to record 3,000 strikeouts. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-records-3-000th-strikeout
“I know both of those guys and being a Black Ace is something I take very serious, being one of the guys to win 20 games,” Sabathia said. “To be on that list of guys with 3,000 strikeouts is hard to grasp. It’s hard to think about, but it’s cool to be on that list.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-records-3-000th-strikeout
Sabathia’s first pitch to Murphy was a cutter inside that he took for a ball. He fouled off the next three pitches – all cutters – before swinging and missing at an 84 mph changeup in the strike zone for the third out of the frame, setting Yankees fans in attendance into a frenzy and propelling Sabathia’s teammates out onto the field for a spontaneous celebration. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-records-3-000th-strikeout
Sabathia exhaled. Then he smiled.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-records-3-000th-strikeout
“I didn’t want it to be Murph,” Sabathia said. “Me and him are really close. I’ve known him his whole career and he’s a great guy. I didn’t want it to be [D-backs starter Zack] Greinke and I didn’t want it to be Murph. I was just glad it was over with.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-records-3-000th-strikeout
Sabathia slapped hands and hugged each of his fellow Yankees outside of the dugout while his loved ones rushed down from their seats carrying blue and white oversized cutouts of the No. 3,000 to an opening in the protective netting just outside the first-base camera well. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-records-3-000th-strikeout
Once Sabathia made it inside the dugout, there was a sense of relief, but also some urgency. He was leading off the next inning, so he had to grab a bat and a helmet. When he emerged from the top step, Sabathia tipped his cap to cheering fans. He hugged his kids, kissed his wife and then high-fived family members that have followed him on the road trip to history that started back to April 8, 2001, when he struck out Baltimore left fielder Mike Kinkade looking on a 2-2 pitch in Cleveland for his first career strikeout. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-records-3-000th-strikeout
Now, that first strikeout was nerve-wracking, Sabathia recalled. He didn’t want to strike out his old friend Kinkade, either. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-records-3-000th-strikeout
Once he stepped in the batter’s box, Sabathia struck out on four pitches, but it didn’t matter. Yankees fans and baseball historians among the 36,352 in attendance didn’t come to see Sabathia hit. He ended up striking out in both of his at-bats. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-records-3-000th-strikeout
“I was trying to go deep,” Sabathia said with a smile. “Hit a homer." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-records-3-000th-strikeout
Sabathia entered the game with 2,997 strikeouts and punched out Christian Walker and David Peralta in the second frame to put him on the brink of history. D-backs second baseman Wilmer Flores almost hijacked the moment with a solo home run, and shortstop Nick Ahmed followed with a single. The hits only served to add more tension to an already intense showdown with Murphy, who is no stranger to Yankees’ history. Murphy was behind the plate for Mariano Rivera’s final game. He later asked Sabathia if he wanted him to sign the ball he used to strike him out. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-records-3-000th-strikeout
“The first one was pretty special. Being there for that was something I’ll always have in the memory bank,” Murphy said. “Tonight was the same, but in a little different sense. We were obviously well aware of what he was approaching before the game.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-records-3-000th-strikeout
Sabathia struck out five batters in an eventual 3-1 loss to up his total to 3,002 punchouts. He exited the game in the bottom of the sixth to a standing ovation with The Rembrandts' song, “I’ll Be There For You,” the theme song to television show “Friends” blaring in the background. The fact that the catchy TV tune was the walkup song for Flores, the next hitter, was a coincidence of little consequence.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-records-3-000th-strikeout
This night belonged to Sabathia. Twenty-five family and friends posed for photos on the field after the game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-records-3-000th-strikeout
“Since the end of last year and coming up short 14 strikeouts, it’s been the only thing I have been thinking about for the last six months,” Sabathia said. “To actually have it done and now I can worry about the season. The ultimate goal is to try to win games." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-records-3-000th-strikeout
Sabathia’s story is far from over. His 247 wins tie him with Bartolo Colon and Jack Quinn for 47th place on Major League Baseball’s all-time victories list and he’s three wins away from becoming only the 14th pitcher in the history of the game with at least 250 wins and 3,000 strikeouts. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-records-3-000th-strikeout
Yankees manager Aaron Boone called Sabathia a Hall of Famer, a “no-brainer.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-records-3-000th-strikeout
“Maybe that’s something I’ll think about after the season, but right now, the focus is on trying to win games and trying to win this division,” Sabathia said. “Like I said earlier, it’s not up to me to say my place in history. That’s up to everybody else. I just go out and play as hard as I can and leave my numbers out there. Hopefully, one day they will be good enough to get in." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-records-3-000th-strikeout
New York will return to the diamond Wednesday afternoon to closeout the two game series in the desert where Masahiro Tanaka will look to bounce back from his last start on the west coast while New York will look to earn a split with Arizona while Arizona will look to sweep New York.