KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It may have been the seven days between starts, or perhaps the bizarre travel delay the Yankees endured in suburban Washington from Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Either way, C. C. Sabathia lacked his usual effectiveness on Friday night against the Kansas City Royals, a team he had beaten 21 times, more than any active pitcher except Justin Verlander.
Two early misplays by second baseman Gleyber Torres — one ruled an error, one not — led to three runs and the end of a long unbeaten streak by Sabathia. He lasted five innings in the 5-2 loss, allowing four runs, two of them earned, on four hits in his first defeat in his last 16 starts, going back to Aug.