MLB

Yankees’ bats silenced by Rays’ Moore

RAY OF NOPE: Brett Gardner is forced out at second by Yunel Escobar during the first inning of the Yankees’ 5-1 loss to the Rays. Robinson Cano (inset) accounted for the Yankees’ only two hits, one of which was his sixth home run of the season. (
)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Those among us who are losing years off lives stressing about CC Sabathia’s fastballs had their worry beads in the wrong place last night.

Even if the ace reached triple digits it wouldn’t have been nearly enough because of the way lefty Matt Moore handled a Yankees lineup that was without Kevin Youkilis.

“He was down in the zone, commanded the fastball and the change-up was unbelievable,’’ Francisco Cervelli said of Moore, who allowed a run and two hits — both to Robinson Cano — in eight innings. “But we have to make him pitch a little more.’’

It’s hard to imagine Moore pitching better after watching him handcuff the Yankees on the way to a 5-1 victory in front of a quaint Tropicana Field gathering of 15,531.

Sabathia drove the Yankees into a 4-0 ditch in the first inning when journeyman Ryan Roberts and Yunel Escobar homered and Sean Rodriguez tripled in a run.

As it turned out, those four runs were more than enough for the 23-year-old Moore, who is 4-0 with a microscopic 1.04 ERA.

“He has great stuff and a quality arm that can over-power you,’’ Vernon Wells said of Moore.

Sabathia was less concerned about his velocity which produced several 92 mph fastballs, but mainly was in the 90 range. He also didn’t beat himself up over location. What annoyed the large lefty was the mindset he took to the mound in the first inning.

“Not being aggressive from the start. I tried to tell myself to be nice and easy and that took my aggressiveness away,’’ said Sabathia, who is 3-2.

Moore didn’t allow a hit until Cano’s one-out homer to right in the fourth. His infield single in the sixth was the last Yankee hit. In between walking Brett Gardner to start the game and Cano’s sixth homer, Moore retired 10 straight.

The only inning the Yankees batted with runners in scoring position was the sixth when they had runners at the corners with one out. But Moore struck out Wells and retired Cervelli on a stress-free fly to center.

As every pitcher who accepts the mantle of ace, Sabathia didn’t let the game get completely away. He allowed one run — a second homer to Roberts — across the next six innings.

“I made a bad pitch to Ryan Roberts and he put a good swing on it and Escobar was a fastball right down the middle,’’ Sabathia said of the first-inning home run pitches.

That Sabathia would struggle against the Rays isn’t news. He is 10-10 in 30 starts and 3-6 in 15 games at Tropicana Field.

While Sabathia’s velocity showed a little surge, it’s far from the days when the 96-97 mph fastball was mixed with a high pitching IQ.

“I feel fine. I just need to pitch better,’’ said Sabathia, who had arthroscopic surgery on the left elbow last October. “I wasn’t aggressive. It was one of those things. I don’t know what I was thinking. Bad day.’’

No argument there.

As dominating as Moore was last night, it doesn’t get easier for the Yankees tonight. Despite a 0-1 record and a 6.26 ERA in four starts, reigning AL Cy Young winner David Price goes for the Rays.