Schultz starts against Yanks; Sabathia ejected

TAMPA BAY — Check off another box on Jaime Schultz’s bucket list.

The former Maple Hill High School standout started on the mound against his favorite childhood team — the New York Yankees — on Thursday afternoon.

Schultz has primarily appeared out of the bullpen this season, but the Tampa Bay hurler was a starter since his days pitching in Castleton up until last year.

On Thursday, Schultz gave up a double to Brett Gardner to lead off the game before striking out Aaron Judge. Luke Voit worked a full count and eventually walked on seven pitches and Giancarlo Stanton walked on five pitches to load the bases.

Gardner scored on a wild pitch before Schultz struck out Neil Walker. When Miguel Andujar hit a three-run homer in the next at bat, Schultz’s day on the mound was over and Austin Pruitt came on in relief.

New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia could have lost out on a $500,000 contract bonus when he was ejected after hitting a batter.

In the fifth inning, and with the Yankees up 7-0, Sabathia hit Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jake Bauers with a pitch.

When Rays pitcher Andrew Kittridge followed in the top of the sixth by nearly hitting Yankees catcher Austin Romine in the head, Sabathia hit Rays catcher Jesus Sucre in the leg in the bottom half of the inning. He was immediately ejected and walked off the field pointing at the Rays’ dugout. He could be seen shouting “That’s for you,” followed by an expletive.

The ejection leaves Sabathia with 153 innings pitched, two shy of qualifying for the bonus.

Sabathia, 38, signed a one-year deal in the offseason with a base salary of $10 million, plus bonus incentives, to remain in the Bronx.

The Yankees ended up winning the game, 12-1.