CC Sabathia returns, takes loss as Jays top Yanks

NEW YORK _ In his first start back from the disabled list on Tuesday, CC Sabathia retired the first two Blue Jays batters. But all was not right.

First, Jacoby Ellsbury ran down Jose Bautista's drive to the left-centerfield wall in front of the 399-foot sign. Then, Ellsbury ran down Russell Martin's drive to the right-centerfield wall in front of the 385-foot sign.

Sabathia got through 2 2/3 perfect innings on moxie and guile, but then the roof caved in. Six consecutive Blue Jays reached base, four of them scored, and Sabathia's day was done. The Yankees went on to a 4-1 loss before 44,018 at Yankee Stadium.

Since they were a season-best 15 games over .500 on June 12, the Yankees have gone 6-15.

Sabathia (7-3) had been out since June 15 with a left hamstring strain. The Yankees decided not to have him throw a minor league rehab start. Manager Joe Girardi said he was hoping for five innings and 75-80 pitches from the veteran left-hander. He got neither.

Sabathia retired the first eight batters before walking Darwin Barney with two outs in the third inning of a scoreless game. After a wild pitch, Bautista ripped an RBI single to right.

Martin singled, Josh Donaldson walked to load the bases, and Justin Smoak walked to drive in a run. Kendrys Morales followed with a two-run single to left on Sabathia's 63rd and final pitch to give Toronto a 4-0 lead.

All three walks came on 3-and-2 pitches.

Aaron Judge hit his major league-leading 28th home run leading off the fourth inning against J.A. Happ to make it 4-1.

But it was only good for one run. Judge had a chance to tie the game in the fifth when he came to bat with two outs and two men on. Happ struck him out on a 96 mph, 3-and-2 fastball.

Happ (3-5) went six innings and allowed one run and four hits. He walked two and struck out six, including the last three batters he faced.

Judge nearly had a second chance to tie the game in the seventh. He was on deck and there was a man on first with two outs when Brett Gardner was called out on strikes on what appeared to be a low and inside pitch on 3-and-2.