CC Sabathia’s Last Home Start At Yankee Stadium Overshadows Giancarlo Stanton’s Return [VIDEO]

Fans at Yankee Stadium showed 39-year-old pitcher CC Sabathia due appreciation as he played what is believed to be his final game in the Bronx on Wednesday, the same day Giancarlo Stanton returned from a long absence.

Yankees coach Aaron Boone pulled Sabathia in the third after allowing two turns and striking out five in the 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. The six-time All-Star left to a standing ovation by the Bronx faithful, who gave him due after 11 years in pinstripes. Although Boone has hinted at using Sabathia as a reliever for the playoffs — which the 99-54 Yankees are certain to make — emotions ran high in the stadium.

Stanton got a scorching hit out to center field for a double in his return.

Sabathia amassed his 250th win and his 3,000th strikeout this year, becoming only the 17th pitcher in Major League history to make the 3,000 strikeout club. After the Yankees made a risky move by signing a long-term contract with Sabathia for $160 million back in 2009, he fulfilled his contract and then some with 138 wins to only 88 losses during his stint as a Yankee. He also won a national championship with the team that year. The ink was not even dry when he led the Yanks against his former team, the Cleveland Indians, in two games in the American League Championship. Sabathia also won the series MVP. More big playoff games happened, and he earned a reputation as a “big-game pitcher.”

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Although Sabathia doesn’t have the same velocity, he has been able to adjust his game and place pitches deceptively in different locations with his off-speed stuff.

The Yankees were ready to celebrate clinching the division and an automatic trip to the playoffs, but their loss — coupled with wins by their other division rivals on the same night — kept the champagne on ice. The Tampa Bay Rays came back in the ninth to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Indians defeated the Detroit Tigers 2-1. Thus, Wednesday was Sabathia’s night.

The Yankees play the Angels once again on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. EST.