Three cheers for Sabathia

New pitcher becomes the toast of Milwaukee

Derek Jeter forced Dioner Navarro at second with this throw to end the Rays' final threat in the seventh. (Ray Stubblebine/Reuters)

C.C. Sabathia was a little wild in his debut with the Milwaukee Brewers, but still delivered as advertised in a 7-3 victory over the visiting Colorado Rockies last night.

Sabathia gave up two earned runs and five hits over six innings in his first outing since being traded by Cleveland Monday. The reigning AL Cy Young winner walked five, tying the season high he set back in April.

Showcasing everything from a 96-mile-per-hour fastball to offspeed pitches that dipped into the low 80s in front of a sellout crowd of 42,533, Sabathia kept the Rockies grounded early. He allowed only five balls to escape the infield through his first five innings as the Brewers took a 4-1 lead.

But Sabathia got in trouble in the sixth, loading the bases with no outs on an infield single by Matt Holliday and walks to Garrett Atkins and Ryan Spilborghs.

Yorvit Torrealba doubled down the right-field line, scoring Holliday and Atkins. Spilborghs came up limping at third with a strained left oblique and was taken out of the game for Scott Podsednik. But Sabathia got out of the inning without giving up the lead. He reacted quickly to catch a line drive off the bat of Jayson Nix and threw to third to double up Podsednik. After issuing another walk, Sabathia struck out pinch hitter Brad Hawpe on a 96-m.p.h. fastball to end the inning.

Sabathia reacted emphatically, yelling and pumping his fist as he walked off the mound. He was replaced by David Riske in the seventh, and the bullpen held on for the victory as Milwaukee added three runs in the inning.

Yankees 5, Rays 0 - Derek Jeter delivered with his bat and glove, backing a determined effort by Andy Pettitte that led New York over visiting Tampa Bay.

Jeter lined an early go-ahead double off All-Star Scott Kazmir, then made a stellar play in the seventh inning that preserved a two-run lead and prompted a sellout crowd to chant his name. Pettitte needed little other help in pitching eight sharp innings.

The Rays, with the best record in the majors, lost two in a row for the first time since June 10-11.

Pettitte (10-6) gave up only four hits and walked none.

Down, 2-0, Tampa Bay put runners at the corners with two outs in the seventh. Willy Aybar hit a grounder in the hole that Jeter tracked down, and the All-Star shortstop made a jump toss from several steps onto the outfield grass that forced Dioner Navarro at second base.

Rangers 3, Angels 2 - Ian Kinsler extended his hitting streak to a career-high 20 games and Josh Hamilton's major league-leading 87th RBI helped Texas lefthander Matt Harrison win his debut in a defeat of visiting Los Angeles.

Athletics 2, Mariners 0 - Oakland's Justin Duchscherer (10-5) faced only three batters over the minimum in beating visiting Seattle with a two-hitter, the first complete game of his career.

White Sox 8, Royals 7 - Orlando Cabrera scored Alexei Ramirez on a perfectly executed hit-and-run double in the 13th inning to lift visiting Chicago.

Braves 9, Dodgers 3 - Jair Jurrjens (9-4) pitched six solid innings, batterymate Brian McCann homered twice, and Yunel Escobar hit a three-run double to lead visiting Atlanta.

Pirates 4, Astros 3 - Nate McLouth's two-run single in the eighth capped a three-run rally and host Pittsburgh sent Houston to its seventh loss in eight games in a game delayed by rain for 3 hours 7 minutes.

Cubs 7, Reds 3 - Ryan Dempster (10-3) became the first Cubs pitcher since Rick Reuschel in 1977 to start a season 10-0 at home and Mike Fontenot and Geovany Soto homered to lead Chicago.

Blue Jays 7, Orioles 6 - Alex Rios scored when Baltimore shortstop Freddie Bynum, who had just come in as a defensive replacement, misplayed a grounder in the bottom of the ninth for Toronto's victory.

Tigers 9, Indians 2 - Miguel Cabrera hit two home runs, Marcus Thames had one, and Justin Verlander was dominant after a shaky start, helping host Detroit hand Cleveland its ninth straight loss.

Padres 10, Marlins 1 - Rookie Chase Headley had his best game with three hits and four RBIs and San Diego beat Florida to snap a nine-game home losing streak.

Cardinals 2, Phillies 0 - Joel Pineiro and three relievers combined on a six-hitter, Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick hit solo homers, and visiting St. Louis blanked Philadelphia.

Diamondbacks 2, Nationals 0 - Brandon Webb earned his major league-leading 13th win, pitching six scoreless innings, and visiting Arizona handed Washington its sixth straight loss.

Mets 7, Giants 0 - Mike Pelfrey outpitched All-Star Tim Lincecum to win his fifth straight start, Carlos Beltran drove in four runs, and New York beat visiting San Francisco for its fourth straight win.