In a 4-1 win over the Angels in Game 1, Sabathia allowed one run in eight innings.
Last night he was just as dominant, yielding five hits, walking two, and striking out five in a masterful 101-pitch effort.
"That change-up we saw from him the last couple of times wasn't nearly as consistent as now, and that was the biggest thing we had to adjust to tonight," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He was the story in Game 1 and in this game."
Sabathia was still going strong late in the game. In the eighth inning, he struck out Bobby Abreu on a 96-m.p.h. fastball for the second out.
"I've always said the one thing about CC is he's a big, strong man," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "You look at the shoulders on him, the legs. The other reason he's able to do that is he's very mechanically sound, and that helps."
Sabathia was starting on three days rest for the first time since Oct. 2 of last year, when he pitched Game 2 of the NL division series for Milwaukee.
We all know how that turned out.
That was the game that included Brett Myers' nine-pitch walk and Shane Victorino's grand slam as the Phillies beat Sabathia and the Brewers, 5-2.
Actually, this could have been billed as the battle of starting pitchers who struggled last postseason against the Phillies.
Scott Kazmir was 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two World Series starts for the Tampa Bay Rays against the Phillies. In 10 innings, he walked 10 batters.
The Yankees took a 3-0 fourth-inning lead on a fielder's choice RBI by Robinson Cano and a two-run single by Melky Cabrera.
The inning ended on a bizarre play.
