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Sabathia eyes 16th victory as Yankees take on White Sox

Aug 1, 2011 - 2:42 PM (Sports Network) - CC Sabathia tries to become the majors' first 16-game winner this evening when the New York Yankees open a four-game series with the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

Sabathia was absolutely magnificent on Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners, as he flirted with a perfect game before giving up his lone hit in the seventh inning. The big lefty struck out a career-best 14 -- including seven in a row at one point -- in the win and improved to 15-5 on the year, while lowering his earned run average to 2.56.

"He sure was good," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of his ace, who is 6-1 with an 0.82 ERA in his last seven starts.

Sabathia beat the White Sox earlier in the season and is a marvelous 17-4 lifetime against them with a 3.68 ERA in 30 starts.

The Yankees won the final three games of their four-game set with the Baltimore Orioles, winning Sunday's finale 4-2. Brett Gardner's bases-clearing triple highlighted a four-run fourth inning for New York, which got another tremendous effort from Freddy Garcia.

"I was happy to get it to the bullpen," said Garcia, who allowed five hits and struck out six in six innings

All the news was not great, though, as shortstop Derek Jeter had to leave the game with a bruised right middle finger after being hit with a pitch. X-rays came back negative and he is listed as day-to-day.

Chicago, meanwhile, dropped two of three to the Boston Red Sox over the weekend, losing 5-3 in Sunday's finale.

Jesse Crain (5-3) took the loss by allowing the deciding runs to cross the plate. Mark Buehrle started the contest and went six innings, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks in Chicago's third loss in five games.

Chicago also lost Paul Konerko in that one, as he left after being hit by a pitch in the left leg and is questionable for tonight's opener. Konerko is a career .315 (101-for-321) hitter with 20 home runs and 60 RBI against the Yankees.

Tonight, the White Sox rely on veteran righty Jake Peavy, who is 4-4 with a 5.26 ERA. Peavy did not get a decision on Tuesday against Detroit, as the Tigers reached him for four runs and 10 hits in six innings.

Peavy has lost both of his starts to the Yankees, surrendering four earned runs in 10 innings of those outings.

These teams split a four-game set in the Bronx earlier in the year. Chicago was outscored 17-9 in that series, but out-hit the Yankees, 31-26.