Nerves get to CC Sabathia, who still triumphs in debut

MILWAUKEE — CC Sabathia screamed and pumped his fist as he lumbered off the mound after striking out Brad Hawpe with a nasty 96 mph fastball to escape a sixth-inning jam with the lead.

Sabathia was a little wild on Tuesday night, but he still wound up a winner in his Milwaukee debut, giving up two earned runs and five hits in six innings as the Brewers beat the Colorado Rockies 7-3.

The sadness of being traded from his teammates in Cleveland, the excitement of joining the Brewers and sporadic control problems were a lot for Sabathia (1-0) to take in, and his emphatic celebration after the last out of the sixth inning was his way of letting it all out.

"It was just kind of a release," Sabathia said. "You'll see that from me from time to time — not much, but from time to time. I get riled up, I have to let it out."

The reigning AL Cy Young winner walked five, tying the season high he set in April. Brewers manager Ned Yost chalked up Sabathia's control problems to nervous energy, comparing Tuesday's atmosphere to opening day.

"There are nerves," Yost said. "There's excitement. And it's hard to keep yourself calm in these situations."

Third baseman Bill Hall said teammates gave Sabathia a Brewers-style welcome after the game: a beer shower and a bear hug.

"That's what we do when guys get their first win, first hit, big games," Hall said. "Obviously, first win for him as a Brewer, so that's our ritual. And Prince [Fielder] gives him a hug."

Now Sabathia can settle into life with his new team. And it remains to be seen whether the tight end-sized left-hander can pair with incumbent ace Ben Sheets to power the Brewers past the Chicago Cubs — who delivered a quick counterpunch to Milwaukee's trade for Sabathia by prying Rich Harden from Oakland in a trade Tuesday.

Sabathia and Yost said the Cubs weren't their concern, at least not for now.

"The rest of the summer, these last 2 ½ months, it's going to make it really fun and interesting," Yost said. "But does it affect us, or do we think about it on a daily basis? No."

Tuesday wasn't much fun for the Rockies, who ran into a tough pitcher and some bad luck.

Sabathia got in trouble in the sixth, loading the bases with no outs on an infield single by Matt Holliday and walks to Garrett Atkins and Ryan Spilborghs.

Yorvit Torrealba doubled down the right-field line, scoring Holliday and Atkins. Spillborghs appeared to have a chance to score the tying run, but instead came up limping at third with a strained left oblique and left the game.