09/29/2007 12:33 AM ET
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com
KANSAS CITY -- C.C. Sabathia got all the formalities out of the way against the Royals on Friday night.
At 27, he became the Majors' youngest pitcher since Greg Maddux to win his 100th career game. He finished off a regular season in which he notched career-bests in wins (19), ERA (3.21), innings pitched (241) and strikeouts (209). And he further polished his credentials for Cy Young Award candidacy.
Sabathia even escaped a couple scares in this 5-3 victory at Kauffman Stadium -- avoiding injury on the pair of line drives Mark Grudzielanek shot off his wrists, and avoiding the no-decision that would have come if closer Joe Borowski didn't get the final out with two men on.
When it was all over, the Indians' stalwart ace could finally turn his focus to more important matters.
Namely, the Yankees.
"Bring it on," Sabathia said. "We're excited to be in this situation. We're just going to go out and try to play our type of baseball against whoever we play." After five days in limbo, the Indians pulled the curtain on the mystery that was their first-round opponent and location. This win, combined with the Red Sox's clinching of the American League East title and the Tribe's tiebreaker advantage on the Angels, guaranteed the Indians home-field advantage in next week's American League Division Series against the Yanks.
