It Isn't a Gem, but Sabathia's Win Has Some Luster Robinson Cano hitting a two-run double in the sixth inning Wednesday. Later that inning, he scored the decisive run. MINNEAPOLIS - His arm slot was inconsistent, his command was suspect, and he required 121 pitches just to get through seven innings. Perhaps, though, it was the most fitting way for C. C. Sabathia to reach a significant milestone. In the 401st start of his 13-year career, the 32-year-old Sabathia labored his way to his 200th win during a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Robinson Cano provided the offensive thrust, hitting a two-run double and scoring the decisive run as the Yankees came from two runs down to score three times in the sixth and win their third consecutive game after a five-game losing streak. For Sabathia, it was not a thing of beauty, but that made this one emblematic of so many of his wins. "I feel like all of them I battled for," he said. Sabathia won his first major league game on April 13, 2001, in the second start of his career, which began with the Cleveland Indians. It was a 9-8 decision over the Detroit Tigers, and Sabathia surrendered four runs in five innings. Like Wednesday's game, it was not a gem. In 2001, Sabathia was hoping he would be able to win 10 games as a rookie, but he ended up winning 17, flashing the promise of what would turn out to be a great career. Asked how it felt to win 200 games, Sabathia said he felt old. But he is not. He became the 27th pitcher in major league history to win his 200th game before his 33rd birthday. He turns 33 on July 21. "It's amazing," said Phil Hughes, his close friend. Now he can chug on for a hundred more. He's young enough. He's got the best shot of anyone in baseball to win 300, so he could do it. Sabathia struck out nine over seven innings and allowed seven hits and two runs. Most important, he was handed a lead in the sixth inning and did not give it back, something he had admonished himself for doing too often recently. Mariano Rivera closed out the game in the ninth for his 28th save and the 636th of his career. Sabathia's 200th win was the third milestone the Yankees reached in the series. On Tuesday, Manager Joe Girardi won his 600th game and Andy Pettitte earned his 1,958th strikeout, surpassing Whitey Ford for the most as a Yankee. Cano, who continues to be one of the hottest hitters in baseball, played a big role in all three. Trailing by 2-0 entering the sixth, the Yankees had runners on second and third with nobody out. Twins starter P. J. Walters tried to pitch very carefully to Cano, and still got ahead of him, 1-2, in the count. But when he tried to come backdoor with a slider, it caught too much of the plate, and Cano was ready for it. He lashed it into right field for a double, scoring Brett Gardner and Ichiro Suzuki to even the score, 2-2. Cano then scored on a sacrifice fly by Lyle Overbay. Cano said he was not surprised the Twins pitched to him, especially since he represented the go-ahead run. Asked if he were a manager, would he pitch to a batter who was as hot as he is, he hesitated, then said smiling, "Yeah, I'd pitch to him." Cano went 2-for-3 and raised his batting average to .299. Twins center fielder Aaron Hicks robbed him of a third hit, making a diving catch on a line drive in the eighth. But he still extended his streak of multihit games to six in a stretch so productive, it seems almost too dangerous to pitch to him. He came into Wednesday's game batting .571 (12-for-21) with four home runs, a double and eight runs batted in during the first five games of the trip. When he scored the run to give the Yankees the lead, it marked the fifth straight game in which he had at least one run and two hits. He was also playing with his fifth double-play partner. Girardi said he was not sure if the Twins would pitch to Cano, but was not complaining. "I'm always happy to see Robbie hit," he said. Derek Jeter continues to progress in his recovery from a broken ankle and could begin his minor league rehabilitation assignment as soon as Monday. "Every day he goes out there he gets closer," Joe Girardi said. He's done a lot more, so hopefully it's pretty soon.