Another off night for Sabathia

Another off night for Sabathia
Struggling with control, ace walks five and gives up nine runs
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com

CLEVELAND -- C.C. Sabathia is giving new meaning to the term "starting nine," as the Indians' early season woes linger on.

For the second start in a row Wednesday night, Sabathia allowed nine runs in a short outing, and that set the tone in an ugly, 13-2 loss to the rival Tigers in front of a sparse and quiet crowd at Progressive Field.

While the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner was getting lit up, Armando Galarraga, called up from Triple-A Toledo to make just his second-ever start in the bigs, tore through the Tribe lineup. He allowed just one hit -- a David Dellucci solo homer in the first -- in 6 2/3 innings of work.

Still struggling mightily with his command, Sabathia gave up an early two-run homer and one-run single to Miguel Cabrera to put the Tribe in a 3-1 hole after three innings. But he really unraveled in the fifth. The Tigers loaded the bases on walks to set up Cabrera's two-run single. Carlos Guillen's groundball single reloaded the bases, and Edgar Renteria torched a first-pitch fastball out to left-center field for a grand slam to make it 9-1.

That was it for Sabathia, who gave up the nine runs on eight hits with five walks and a strikeout in just four innings of work.

But the Tigers weren't done. They got another run in the fifth off reliever Tom Mastny. On a fielder's choice with two on, catcher Victor Martinez, thinking the bases were loaded, stepped on home plate for a force out that didn't exist, and Marcus Thames slid in for the run.

It was just that kind of night for the Indians, who have now dropped three straight, six of seven and 10 of 13.

The reigning Cy Young Award's ERA in his last 2 games is 20.25. :puke2:

Off night? That's the best they can call it? I call it...CC got his Ass kicked!

Been getting it kicked every game this season!