Sabathia eyes start in Oakland

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — C.C. Sabathia always loved coming to the Oakland Coliseum when he was growing up in nearby Vallejo to watch his heroes on the Athletics and Raiders.

Sabathia’s experience here as a major league pitcher haven’t been quite as enjoyable.

“I must have done something bad here as a kid because I have some bad karma here,” Sabathia said Monday before his New York Yankees opened a three-game series against the A’s. “Hopefully, I can change it tomorrow.”

Sabathia is slated to make his ninth career start in Oakland on Tuesday night. There hasn’t been much to be proud of in those first eight appearances.

Sabathia has a 1-4 record with a 7.12 ERA in his career at the Coliseum. His ERA in Oakland is the second highest of any stadium he has pitched in more than twice, trailing only the old Yankee Stadium, where he was 1-4 with an 8.61 ERA.

The results have been particularly poor recently, with Sabathia losing his last four starts in Oakland while allowing 22 earned runs in 19 2-3 innings for a 10.07 ERA.