C.C. Sabathia is making a strong case for a second American League Cy Young Award.

Sabathia (19-5) limited the Oakland Athletics to just a single hit over eight innings as the New York Yankees completed a four-game sweep of their series on Thursday afternoon.

"I've always enjoyed pitching in hot weather," Sabathia said. "Keep the sweat going, keep my arm loose."

Sabathia struck out five in the 5-0 win at Yankee Stadium. The big lefty, who won the Cy Young in 2007 with Cleveland, has won his last six and is sporting a 15-2 record in 18 starts since the beginning of June.

He is now 16-0 in 21 starts at Yankee Stadium since the 2009 All-Star break.

"It's as good as it gets," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

Mark Ellis of the Athletics led off the second with a base hit, but it never happened again, including in the ninth against New York reliever Jonathan Albaladejo. Sabathia allowed five baserunners in all, walking three and hitting Jeff Larish with a pitch.

Albaladejo also hit a batter, but recovered to finish off the visitors without fail.

New York (84-50) opened a 1½-game lead over idle Tampa Bay atop the AL East. The Yankees open a three-game home set against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.

Centrefielder Curtis Granderson wasn't even slated to start, but he came off the bench in the second when Nick Swisher left with knee stiffness. Granderson belted home runs in the sixth and seventh innings to provide the bulk of the offence, the latter a two-run shot.

33 runs in 4 starts

Granderson now has 17 home runs on the season.

Sabathia hardly needs the help, but the Yankees have provided him with 33 runs in his last four starts.

Jorge Posada opened the scoring in the bottom of the second with a solo shot, his 17th, off Dallas Braden (9-10). The Oakland starter pitched well enough, but took the loss with just two hits allowed in five innings of work.

Braden was forced to leave early with a groin injury, not long after hitting Derek Jeter with a pitch.

Granderson hit his longballs off Jerry Blevins and Michael Wuertz, while Lance Berkman — fresh off the disabled list — contributed a pinch-hit, RBI single in the seventh and scored an inning later on an Austin Kearns base hit to left.

Oakland dropped to 65-68 on the season.

Sabathia will get a chance for his first 20-win season next week against Baltimore.