SEATTLE — Watching the Yankees score runs in bundles for CC Sabathia is akin to running a fund raiser for Donald Trump or introducing Brooklyn Decker to liposuction.
That’s not to say the ace left-hander just goes along for the ride every five days. However, after yesterday’s 7-1 spanking of the Mariners in front of 37,290 at Safeco Field, Sabathia’s mates are averaging a hefty 6.83 runs in his 12 starts this season.
Asked if the hitters ever kid him about the support, Sabathia smiled.
“They are scoring a lot of runs for me, I have no complaints,” Sabathia said. “I don’t think anybody realizes it yet but I know.”
Considering Sabathia is among the elite starters in baseball, he doesn’t require that type of support from a lineup that was shut out in two of those dozen starts.
However, considering the Yankees flushed leads Friday and Saturday night in devastating losses, Sabathia and his teammates aren’t going to apologize for the bats making loud noises yesterday.
“We needed it badly,” manager Joe Girardi said. “We had a chance to win all three here.”
Armed with a 6-0 lead after a five-run third frame fueled by Andruw Jones’ three-run double, Sabathia (6-3) cruised to his third straight victory. He allowed a run and five hits in eight innings.
“I try not to let [an early lead] affect the way I pitch,” said Sabathia, who has allowed five earned runs across 25 innings in his last three starts. “I make sure I stay focused.”
The win, against the worst hitting club in the AL, which erased deficits of 3-0 Friday and 3-1 Saturday, enabled the Yankees to leave town without getting swept at the start of a nine-game, three-city West Coast trip that lands in Oakland today against the pitching-rich Athletics.
Sabathia, who went nine innings in his previous start Tuesday against the Blue Jays, blanked the Mariners through five innings before Justin Smoak’s one-out, bases-empty home run in the sixth ruined his shutout bid.
Nick Swisher’s third homer, the first since May 7 and first from the right side this season, stopped a homerless streak of 60 at-bats for the right fielder and staked Sabathia to a 1-0 lead in the second inning. It was the start of the beating lefty Jason Vargas (3-3) absorbed. In three innings, the Yankees scored six runs, had five hits and drew four walks.
“With the big boy on the mound, you feel like one or two runs, you feel like you will win the ballgame,” Swisher said.
With two out in the third, Jones, batting with Alex Rodriguez on third base, Robinson Cano on second and Swisher on first, doubled into the right-field corner to drive in all three runners and hike the lead to 5-0.
“It was a huge hit, the turning point in the game,” Girardi said. “We wanted to ride CC for a long time because of our bullpen [needing rest].”
Eduardo Nunez followed with an RBI triple to left-center.
A little over a week ago, people were wondering if Jones was this year’s version of Randy Winn: a veteran player accustomed to regular work struggling when asked to adjust to a bench role. The questions were legitimate because Jones was batting .191 (9-for-47) overall and .143 (1-for-7) with runners in scoring position.
Now, however, Jones has gone 4-for-6 with two homers and seven RBIs in his last two starts.
“I have felt good the last two games for sure,” said Jones, who likely will start the final two games in Oakland because the A’s are starting lefties tomorrow night and Wednesday.
Saturday is Sabathia’s next scheduled start. Based on this season, it might be wise to bet the over.
george.king@nypost.com