FACE THE FACTS: While CC Sabathia let out a scream of frustration as he left the mound after giving up the go-ahead home run to Nate McLouth, Orioles rookie Kevin Gausman got soaked with a shaving-cream pie and a bucket of water after picking up his first major league win.
BALTIMORE — As the ball climbed into the oppressive heat and humidity that smothered Camden Yards last night, CC Sabathia followed the arc from home plate toward the right-field seats.
When Nate McLouth’s seventh-inning solo homer splashed down in a sea of Orioles fans to give the home team a one-run lead, the Yankees’ ace lowered his massive body into a squat.
Then he filled the infield with a scream that was the first act of rage from a man who rarely gives the public a peek into his negative emotions.
Upon leaving the mound, Sabathia fired his glove into the back wall of the third-base dugout and flung his cap. Then he vanished into the tunnel.
Even though the Yankees’ ace would never admit it, he had to know with the limp Yankees’ lineup he was about to taste defeat. What Sabathia was sure of was that he allowed a rare, early three-run cushion get away.
McLouth’s homer lifted the Orioles to a 4-3 victory that was witnessed by 40,041 and may have been the most crushing Yankees loss in a season that is quickly circling the drain.
“I had a lead and gave it up,’’ said Sabathia (8-6), who took a no-hitter and a three-run lead into the sixth before giving up three runs in the inning to tie it. “I try not to show emotion, but …’’
Of the five Orioles hits, two were hard hit — Manny Machado’s two-run double on a high change-up in the sixth and McLouth’s homer off a slider that was more towering drive than screaming liner.
The three-run sixth was fueled by two swinging bunts to the right side that Sabathia, who failed in his first crack at 200 wins, fielded but didn’t have plays at first.
The initial slow roller by Alexi Casilla resulted in a hit because David Adams, who made his first start at first base, charged the ball instead of staying at the bag.
“It’s my fault, I needed to be on the bag,’’ said Adams, who before the game explained that type of play is the toughest for somebody without first-base experience. “I got to know I needed to be on the bag. That’s the bottom line. As soon as I was running to the ball I knew I messed up.’’
That it fueled a three-run rally that tied the score only made it worse.
The Yankees’ third straight loss and fourth in five games coupled with the AL East-leading Red Sox winning dropped the visitors to a season-high
5 1/2 games out of first.
In seven innings, Sabathia gave up four runs, five hits, didn’t issue a walk and whiffed six. That his velocity has improved — he was at 94 mph several times last night — is no consolation.
“I feel like I am wasting starts,’’ said Sabathia, who didn’t give up a hit until McLouth’s leadoff single in the sixth. “Things like tonight can’t happen.’’
And when it did, the Yankees were cooked because they didn’t score more than three runs off T.J.McFarland early in the lefty’s first big-league start that lasted 2 2/3 innings.
“You can’t expect your ace to throw a shutout,’’ Joe Girardi said. “We have to score some runs.’’
But how?
Last night’s lineup sheet that included Zoilo Almonte, Adams and Alberto Gonzalez produced a chuckle from a scout. Another wondered if it was a “B’’ game in spring training.
Following a two-run third inning in which the Yankees went 2-for-5 with runners in scoring position, they didn’t get a runner to second base in the next six frames.
“During the course of 162 games, you are going to lose some tough ones,’’ Girardi said after the toughest one of the year.