Even though CC Sabathia surrendered only two runs and logged seven innings, he wasn’t happy with his performance. And not just because he was the losing pitcher.
Sabathia said his impressive line was deceiving in the Yankees’ 6-1 World Series Game 1 loss last night.
“I didn’t pitch well,” he insisted.
“Three walks. I was behind everybody,” he said. “I wish I could stand here and say it was just two pitches. But I was behind pretty much the whole game. I was able to battle back and make some pitches when I need to. But that’s not at all how I’ve been pitching in the postseason.”
That last part is semi-true. In each of his three postseason starts, Sabathia had been brilliant, limiting the Twins and Angels to just one earned run per outing. Last night he surrendered two runs.
But that technicality aside, Sabathia had a strong game last night against the Phillies. He served up two home runs, both solo shots to Philly star Chase Utley. Beyond that, he did have the three walks, but only allowed four hits overall. He put seven men on base in seven innings and that’s tough to fault.
Still, his Yankees are now in a 1-0 hole.
“It [stinks],” Sabathia said. “You want to come out and try to set the tone early for the series. But Cliff [Lee] pitched a great game so we’ve got to come back out [tonight] and try to get ’em.”
mark.hale@nypost.com