NEW YORK-CC Sabathia threw six shutout innings of one-hit ball, Giancarlo Stanton homered for the fifth time in six games and the New York Yankees defeated the Texas Rangers 7-2 on Sunday.
Didi Gregorius also homered and turned in a nifty defensive play for New York, who won for the sixth time in seven games.
Joey Gallo had two hits for Texas, who dropped three of the four games in the series. He also reached over the left-field wall to take a home run away from Austin Romine in the eighth.
Sabathia (7-4) turned in perhaps his best outing of the season, striking out seven to win for the first time since July 4. The burly left-hander lowered his ERA to 3.32-the 38-year old has not finished a season with an ERA lower than 3.38 since 2011.
Stanton hit his 30th home run, giving New York a first-inning lead for the second straight day by connecting off Martin Perez (2-5). Stanton has the most home runs by any Yankees player in his first season with the team since Mark Teixeira hit 39 in 2009.
In the top of the fifth, Gregorius slid to his right, and while fielding the ball, rose to his feet in one motion and whipped a strong throw to first to nab speedster Delino DeShields by a half-step. The crowd chanted his name after the play and the New York shortstop briefly tipped his cap to the crowd in acknowledgement.
DeShields was activated from the seven-day concussion disabled list earlier in the day.
The Yankees scored five times in the bottom half of the inning. Aaron Hicks hit a two-run single and Gregorius capped the burst with his 21st homer.
Texas scored twice in the seventh against Sonny Gray in the seventh. DeShields drove in a run with an infield single.
Gray ran into trouble again in the eighth, allowing the first two batters of the inning to reach, but Jonathan Holder wiggled out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts. Expected to be a key component of New York's rotation, Gray has given up nine earned runs over his last 5 2-3 innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Yankees: Stanton continues to be limited by a sore left hamstring that keeps the outfielder in a designated hitter role. Manager Aaron Boone commented that Stanton's ability to play in the field is examined on a daily basis. Boone said while believes Stanton could be used in the field, the first-year manager is playing it conservatively. OF Clint Frazier (post-concussion migraines) was able to hit in the batting cage Saturday, but continues to experience symptoms.
Rangers: OF Nomar Mazara (right thumb sprain) was limited to designated hitter duties with Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.
UP NEXT
Yankees: RHP Luis Severino (15-5, 3.11 ERA) pitches for the Yankees against Mets ace RHP Jacob deGrom (6-7, 1.77 ERA) Monday to close out the Subway Series on what was originally an off-day for both teams. The game was scheduled for July 22, but was postponed because of heavy rain. Severino's 15 wins led the AL. DeGrom continues to lead the majors in ERA and is coming off his first victory since June 18.
Rangers: RHP Bartolo Colon (6-10, 5.18 ERA) pitches against RHP Zack Greinke (12-7, 2.89 ERA) as Texas opens a two-game interleague matchup with Arizona. Colon allowed four runs over seven innings to defeat Seattle on Aug. 7, passing Dennis Martinez to become the career leader for most wins in MLB history by a pitcher from Latin America.