Rough stat line doesn’t tell whole story on Sabathia

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CC Sabathia’s final line from Thursday’s 6-3 loss to the Blue Jays isn’t pretty. The left-hander allowed five runs - four earned - on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings in his first start since May 2014. Behind those numbers, however, are some encouraging signs.

Unlike Masahiro Tanaka, whose first start of the season included few positives, Sabathia has things to build on. Of the 17 outs the veteran recorded, 15 of them came via strikeout (eight) or ground ball (seven). The five hits he allowed in Toronto’s four-run second inning were all singles, and while a few were hard hit, the Blue Jays weren’t able to lift the ball against him.

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