PHILADELPHIA — In his 92 career at-bats, CC Sabathia has blasted three home runs. Apparently, the shots were the product of simple location.
“That the balls were just right down the middle,” Sabathia said yesterday. “Right into my swings.”
Sabathia and his fellow pitchers will start swinging again tonight, as the Yankees will be without their DH for the next three World Series games at Citizens Bank Park. Leading off is Andy Pettitte tonight, with Sabathia presumably on deck in Game 4.
A.J. Burnett, who could go in Game 5, and Sabathia both took batting practice yesterday, after which Derek Jeter said jokingly, “CC’s hitting third tomorrow.”
Sabathia, who said he slammed three homers in a high school game more than one time, relishes the chance to hit. And he swings for the fences now. A base hit — even an extra-base hit — is just a consolation prize if he doesn’t go yard.
“I’m trying to hit a home run,” he said. “If I hit a single, I hit a single. Hit a double, hit a double. I’m trying to go deep.”
Though Pettitte has one career homer and Sabathia has three, the two pitchers have someone in common that they have both taken deep. And they possibly could face that pitcher this weekend. Who is it? Phillies reliever Chan Ho Park.
Phillies righty Joe Blanton, who’s pitching Game 4, homered off then-Rays righty Edwin Jackson in last year’s World Series.
Pettitte said he’s mainly concerned about being prepared to sacrifice.
“Hopefully you can get a bunt down, which I feel pretty comfortable bunting,” he said. “Really that’s the big thing.”
Pettitte’s a .134 career hitter, but Sabathia has batted a more than respectable .261 with 14 RBIs.
“CC is ready to do damage,” Johnny Damon said.
mark.hale@nypost.com