Sabathia slams Red Sox for bunting strategy: 'It's kind of weak to me'
New York Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia was none too impressed with the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night, slamming the division leaders for bunting on him during their pivotal series opener in the Bronx.
"It's kind of weak to me," Sabathia told reporters, including Dan Martin of the New York Post, after leading his club to a 6-2 victory. "It shows what they've got over there. … I'm an old man. They should go out there and try to kick my butt."
With one out in the top of the first, Sabathia - who wasn't thrilled that Boston tried to bunt on him during a recent start at Fenway Park - was unable to make a play on a bunt from Red Sox newcomer Eduardo Nunez, allowing him to reach when his throw pulled first baseman Greg Bird off the bag. Though the 37-year-old made it out of the inning unscathed, escaping a bases-loaded jam by striking out Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers, Sabathia didn't hide his displeasure with Boston's strategy, cursing at the Red Sox dugout as he made his way off the field.
"I don't give a (expletive) about their reaction," Sabathia, who allowed just one earned run over six innings, added. "I don't care what they have to say. I'm out there early (working) every day. If they've got something to say, we can meet in center field."
Nunez, who spent the first four years of his MLB career in New York, was unfazed by his former teammate's reaction, assuring reporters he wouldn't shy away from bunting on Sabathia again if he had to.
"One hundred percent, yes," Nunez said. "Play (the infield) in or field the ball. He's (37) years old, he wants respect. People know he was on the DL for the knee. If I have to bunt four times I will. … That’s my game. I cannot change my game. We know he has a bad knee, but that's not my problem. I have to try to bunt."
With Thursday's victory, the Yankees (71-62) maintained their one-game lead over the Minnesota Twins for the top American League wild-card spot while trimming Boston's cushion atop the AL East to 4 1/2 games.