Sabathia wins 5th straight with 8 sharp innings in Yankees’ 2-1 win over Torre and Dodgers

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A-Rod homers to lift Yankees over Dodgers, 2-1

LOS ANGELES — CC Sabathia won his fifth consecutive start with eight sharp innings, Alex Rodriguez homered in the sixth inning to snap a tie and the New York Yankees beat Joe Torre and the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 Friday night in the opener of their second-ever regular season series.

It was Torre’s first time facing the Yankees since leaving as manager in 2007. He was greeted warmly during batting practice by current manager Joe Girardi and several players, but not Rodriguez, who stretched 15 feet from Torre with his back to his former manager. Rodriguez was not favorably portrayed in Torre’s book “The Yankee Years” and earlier in the week declined to talk about him when asked.

The AL East-leading Yankees won their third straight while sending the Dodgers to their 10th loss in 13 games, a slide that has plunged them from first to third in the NL West. Los Angeles remains on pace for its worst season in 15 years of interleague play, dropping to 3-10 with two games left against the Yankees.

Sabathia (9-3) allowed four hits and one run, struck out seven and walked three. The Yankees’ defense helped him out, too, turning double plays in the third and fifth innings.

Mariano Rivera struck out the side in the ninth to earn his 17th save in 18 chances, getting Manny Ramirez, Matt Kemp and James Loney to whiff.

Vicente Padilla (1-2) gave up two runs and six hits in seven innings, struck out seven and walked one.

The last time these teams met in the regular season, the Dodgers took two of three at home in 2004. Most of their history has come in the World Series, with New York winning eight of the 11 meetings.

Rodriguez connected for the 10th time, sending the first pitch from Padilla into the left field pavilion for the 593rd career homer.

The Dodgers scored on Ramirez’s single in the first.

New York tied it in the second on a single by Jorge Posada that scored Rodriguez, who doubled to lead off the inning.

Then things got interesting.

Padilla hit Robinson Cano in the right hip leading off the fourth. Sabathia then plunked Padilla in the left leg one inning later, and gestured with his glove at the Dodgers pitcher as he made his way to first, with Posada walking alongside Padilla while staying between him and Sabathia. Sabathia made a pickoff throw to first.

Padilla has a history with New York’s Mark Teixeira dating back to last year when he twice threw at Teixeira, his former teammate on the Texas Rangers. But nothing transpired between them this time.

NOTES: The Yankees are 10-6 in interleague play this season. … The Dodgers recalled RHP Jon Link from Triple-A Albuquerque and designated RHP Charlie Haeger for assignment. … The announced crowd of 56,000 was the Dodgers’ third sellout this season. … Pau Gasol of the two-time NBA champion Lakers threw out the first pitch and bassist Flea and guitarist Josh Klinghoffer of Red Hot Chili Peppers played the national anthem.