MLB

Yankees sweep Orioles, give Sabathia first win in a month

CC Sabathia looked more like himself yesterday.

The Yankees’ ace left-hander had gone a month since winning a game, struggling in four of his last five starts entering the matinee against Baltimore and suffering through his longest winless skid since he came to New York.

But he was far better this time, firing seven innings of three-run ball in the Yankees’ 6-3 victory over the Orioles at the Stadium. Sabathia (5-3) surrendered just three hits and struck out seven in his first win since May 3. In the first 6 1/3 innings, he surrendered only one hit and walked nobody, looking impressive as the Yankees completed a three-game sweep of Baltimore.

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“I think [he was] frustrated because CC’s used to pitching at a very high level,” manager Joe Girardi said when asked if Sabathia needed this. “Whether he needed it or not, I think it’s good for his spirits.”

But though Sabathia was better than he had been, he still had issues. The $161 million man didn’t completely dominate the major leagues’ worst team and the AL’s worst offense. He continued to be victimized by the long ball, allowing two home runs, and also had to work out of a seventh-inning jam after turning the Yankees’ 6-1 lead into a tenuous three-run lead.

He allowed two runs in the seventh, but Joba Chamberlain and Mariano Rivera, who got his 12th save, closed things out.

“A little bit better command of his breaking ball and he’ll be there,” pitching coach Dave Eiland said. “He’s very close.”

Sabathia lowered his ERA to 4.14, but in his last nine starts, he has allowed fewer than three runs only twice. More disturbing, he has allowed 12 homers in his 12 starts this year; last year through 12 starts, he had given up only six. Sabathia never has given up more than 20 in a season, but right now he’s on pace for over 30.

“What can you do?” Sabathia said. “Just make better pitches.”

The Yankees headed for Toronto last night having won five in a row, and can tie their longest winning streak of the season with a victory tonight. They went 6-1 on their homestand, outscoring the Indians and Orioles 55-25.

“That team is hitting on all cylinders right now,” Orioles manager Dave Trembley said.

The Yankees grabbed a 5-1 lead three innings in, with Derek Jeter scoring on a balk by Baltimore starter Kevin Millwood, Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson getting RBI hits, and Alex Rodriguez blasting a two-run homer. Brett Gardner added a solo homer in the sixth.

The only hit off Sabathia through six innings was Adam Jones’ solo blast in the third.

Eiland was not concerned about Jones’ home run.

“Who cares?” he said. “Solo home runs, you can recover from those.”

Sabathia threw a scare into the Stadium in the fifth when he fielded Jones’ comebacker with his left hand (tossing a bit wild to first for an error). Sabathia said his hand initially went numb, but then was fine, and he sailed into the seventh leading 6-1.

Luke Scott’s two-run homer made it 6-3, however, and Sabathia walked Garrett Atkins before striking out Jones and getting Craig Tatum to ground out.

“The past couple starts, I’d get 1-2, 0-2 and guys foul a couple pitches off and turn it into a long at-bat,” Sabathia said. “[Yesterday] I was able to put guys away.”

mark.hale@nypost.com