The Dodgers can't solve the riddle that is left-handed pitching.
C.C. Sabathia threw six scoreless innings and the New York Yankees shutout the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3-0, on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.
Jacoby Ellsbury, Didi Gregorius, and Gary Sanchez all hit solo home runs for the Yankees who tied the best-of-three series with the rubber match slated for Wednesday afternoon.
The Dodgers are dead last in the Major League when it comes to hitting against left-handed pitching this season. Their .215 batting average is nearly .70 points lower than the Boston Red Sox who lead the league.
"Every time we get a left-hander we feel good about it and are optimistic but it's been a tough year against left-handed pitching and the numbers don't lie," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of facing left-handers.
The struggles against southpaws continued on Tuesday as the Dodgers made Sabathia look like his 2007 Cy Young Award winning self.
"C.C. kept us at bay and off balance and we didn't get good swings against him, but regardless we have to get guys on base and produce runs," continued Roberts. "I don't think we faired too well against him."
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Sabathia did not factor in the decision, but threw 6 and 1/3 shutout innings, scattering three hits with seven strikeouts.
Julio Urias labored through four scoreless innings for the Boys in Blue, allowing no runs on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts in what was likely his last start of the season.
"It's up to the team whether this was my last outing, whether I come out of the bullpen or they give me rest," Urias said. "It's up to the coaches and the team and I'm happy with whatever decision they make."
The 20-year-old left-hander loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, but reliever, Lou Coleman came out of the pen to get out of the jam, inducing a groundout from former Dodger Ronald Torreyes to end the inning.
"Julio did a nice job and kept us in the game," added Roberts. "He found ways to get outs and gave us a chance to win."
Another rookie, Ross Stripling, came into the game in relief, but allowed back-to-back home runs on consecutive pitches to Ellsbury and Gregorius in the bottom of the seventh.
"Ross left a breaking ball up to Ellsbury and a first pitch homer to Gregorius," finished Roberts. "But you have to score anyway."
Sanchez gave the Yankees their third solo shot of the game when he homered off Jesse Chavez in the bottom of the eighth. All three homers were to right-center.
Dellin Betances worked the ninth and recorded his 11th save of the season for the Yankees.
Los Angeles now leads the San Francisco Giants by 4 games in the National League West with the rivals losing to the Padres at AT&T Park.
Players of the Game:
C.C. Sabathia: 6 and 1/3 shutout innings.
Jacoby Ellsbury: Solo home run.
Didi Gregorius: Pinch-hit home run.
Three Takeaways:
1. Don't Pick On Me: Julio Urias leads the Major Leagues in pickoffs with 6 and has only pitched 70 innings this season.
Urias has 6 pickoffs now, the most in MLB, and he's not been a full-time SP at all. #MLBPlus — Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) September 13, 2016
2. Baby Bombers: Jacoby Ellsbury and Didi Gregorius went back-to-back in the bottom of the seventh inning for the Yankees. According to Elias Sports, it was the first time since 1957 that two Yankees went back-to-back in games they didn't start.
.@EliasSports reports that Jacoby Ellsbury & Didi Gregorius are the 1st Yankees since 1957 to go back-to-back in a game they didn't start. — Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) September 14, 2016
3. Summer Lovin': Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias has been sensational over the summer. Since the All-Star Break, the 20-year-old is undefeated with a record of 3-0 and a 1.71 ERA.
#Dodgers Julio Urias over past 7 games (5 starts) -- 4-0, 2.25 ERA, 32 K in 32 IP — Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) September 13, 2016
Up Next:
Dodgers (81-63): Clayton Kershaw makes his first start at Yankees stadium when he takes the mound in the rubber match.
Yankees (77-67): Right-hander Michael Pineda gets the start on Wednesday at 1:05 PM PST.
