"It was bothering me that we hadn't won games I'd started, or tried to keep us in games, or keep us close to win games," Sabathia said. "That's my biggest concern, is always just trying to help the team. I think wins will come, and it was good to get this one."
The effort snapped a string of seven straight losing decisions over nine starts dating back to last April 29. Prolonged by his season-ending knee injury in May, it marked the longest losing streak and winless drought of Sabathia's decorated career.
The Yanks' hitters felt some measure of responsibility for that; Sabathia had received only one run of support in four of his first six starts this season.