With the Yankees and Athletics tied at 1-1 after three innings, the Yankees abruptly turned the ball over to their bullpen.
CC Sabathia, who has dealt with knee problems off and on all season long, allowed just one hit through the first three, a Jurickson Profar solo home run.
Sabathia was seen flexing his right knee in the top of the third inning after a pitch to A's shortstop Marcus Semien. The Yankees announced later in the game that Sabathia was pulled due to right knee discomfort.
"It just got bad again. Threw a pitch to (Semien) in the third inning and just felt a lot of pain," Sabathia said after the game. "We'll have to wait and see how it is tomorrow, but planning on draining it tomorrow and maybe a cortisone shot ..."
"We'll kind of see how it is overnight. I could tell kind of early on tonight that he was struggling with it," Aaron Boone said after the game. "The warrior he is, he pitches as effectively as he did. Even in that third inning, it felt apparent to me.
"We'll see the course of action in the morning."
The veteran left-hander was making his third start since his most recent stint on the Injured List. He pitched just 10 innings total in those three outings.
"I think in his last start in LA, (his knee) was a little balky but he threw the ball really well and was kind of able to work his way through it," Boone said. "Responded decently in between starts, but I think tonight it was bothering him."
The Yankees will have to wait and see what the future holds for Sabathia in terms of his health, but the left-hander is hopeful he'll be able to pitch again in 2019.
"Hopefully I can just get enough rest where it will calm down and I'll be able to get out there and throw 90-100 pitches," Sabathia said.
"It's frustrating for sure, because I feel like I can still get outs and help the team. That's the hardest part is not being able to be out there, and then when I'm out there I'm not performing, so it's frustrating."
Boone was also asked if Sabathia would be able to pitch again this season for the Yankees.
"I don't want to speculate on that," Boone answered.