The scene grew tense at Yankee Stadium, or at least as tense as the fifth inning of a tie game against a last-place team can seem in early August. The Yankees were facing their rivals, the Boston Red Sox, and the bases were loaded for David Ortiz.
This was the moment for C.C. Sabathia. His 15th season has been his worst. His dependability as a bona fide starter has eroded. His confidence has wavered. He labored so much in his last start, in the searing Texas heat, he wound up being hospitalized with symptoms of dehydration.