Field Level Media
May 1, 2019
Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia struck out five to become the 17th major-leaguer to record 3,000 career strikeouts but was outdueled on his historic night by Zack Greinke, who won his fifth straight in Arizona's 3-1 victory Tuesday in Phoenix.
Sabathia, in his 19th and final season, reached the plateau early, striking out the side in the second inning. After Arizona's Wilmer Flores hit his first homer of the season for a 1-0 lead with two outs, Sabathia surrendered a single to Nick Ahmed before getting John Ryan Murphy swinging on a 1-2 changeup for No. 3,000.
Greinke (5-1) gave up five hits and one run in 7 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts and one walk. He made his sixth consecutive quality start and dropped his ERA to a season-low 3.27.
Gary Sanchez and Gleyber Torres hit back-to-back doubles to open the fourth inning, snapping Greinke's 18-inning scoreless streak and tying the game at 1-1. Torres had two hits.
Flores, who also had two hits, singled home Eduardo Escobar with two outs in the last of the fourth inning off Sabathia (1-1), who gave up two runs on five hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings.
Escobar had three hits -- two doubles and a single -- and Ketel Marte doubled and scored an insurance run on David Peralta's eighth-inning sacrifice fly. Escobar has 15 hits in his last 29 at-bats for the Diamondbacks, who have won 11 of 15.
Greg Holland pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his sixth save.
Flores' homer came after Peralta and Christian Walker struck out on 90 mph pitches. After Ahmed beat out a single to first base, Sabathia fanned Murphy to reach the milestone. Teammates entered the field and applauded, and Sabathia was greeted by his children near the Yankees' dugout.
John Smoltz (3,084), Curt Schilling (3,116) and Bob Gibson (3,117) are next on the list. Smoltz was the last pitcher reach 3,000, getting there with Atlanta on April 22, 2008.
Sabathia joined Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton as the only left-handers with 3,000. He has 247 wins in a 19-year career and would become the 14th pitcher in major league history with 250 victories and 3,000 strikeouts.
--Field Level Media