The Mariners continued to slowly build their lead over the next few innings. A solo homer by Gutierrez in the top of the fourth gave them a 3-1 lead. Rob Johnson hit a ground rule double to start the fifth and moved to third on Saunders sac bunt. A sac fly by Ichiro put Seattle ahead 4-1.
Things really fell apart for the Yankees and Phil Hughes in the sixth inning. Milton Bradley worked a walk with one out and moved to second on a ground out by Lopez. Hughes then intentionally walked Gutierrez. A single by Jack Wilson scored Bradley and Gutierrez and Wilson moved up a base on a missed catch error by Francisco Cervelli. Johnson then doubled to left, sending Gutierrez and Wilson home and chasing Hughes from the game as Seattle’s lead sat at 7-1.
Nick Swisher started the bottom of the sixth with a solo homer, but the Yankees were unable to build up any momentum. Boone Logan and Chan Ho Park were able to keep Seatte scoreless for the rest of the game, and the Yankees faced a 7-2 deficit heading into the bottom of theninth inning. Mark Teixeira got things going with a double to left. Alex Rodriguez grounded out, but a single by Cano scored Teixeira and moved the Yankee second baseman to second on a throwing error by Saunders. Posada followed with a ground rule double, sending Cano home and putting the Yankees within striking distance, but the rally ended there as Lee got Curtis Granderson and Chad Huffman to pop up, ending the game with a 7-4 victory for the Mariners.
Bronx Cheers:
Phil Hughes: There are those who will blame Hughes’ bad start on the so-called “Hughes Rules” and his extra rest. I think that is just silly. After pitching incredibly so far this season, the young hurler was due a bad game – and last night he got it. He went just 5.2 innings and gave up ten hits and seven runs (six earned). He walked two, struck out three and seemed to really struggle with his control.
Alex Rodriguez: A-Rod went 0-4 and really didn’t contribute much of anything offensively.
Chad Huffman: Huffman went 0-4 and stranded four runners. He had a big hit in the Yankees comeback against the Diamondbacks last week, but couldn’t seem to find that magic last night.
Curtain Calls:
Nick Swisher: Swish went 2-4 with two homers off one of the best pitchers in the majors.
Curtis Granderson: Grandy also managed to get a couple hits off Lee, going 2-4.
Bullpen: Boone Logan and Chan Ho Park each helped quiet the Seattle bats, giving the Yankees a chance to come back. Logan went 1.1 innings and gave up just two hits, striking out one hitter. Park actually went two innings without giving up a run, hit or walk.
In the On Deck Circle:
The Yankees will try to put that loss behind them as they face Felix Hernandez and the Mariners tonight. Hernandez has put together long and strong outings for the Mariners, going nine innings in his last two starts and 8.2 innings before that. He is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA over his last three starts. However, Curtis Granderson, Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano have each had some success against the Seattle hurler, hitting .360, .333 and .385 off him. The Yankees will send Javier Vazquez to the mound. Vazquez looks to salvage what was looking like a stellar June before an ugly start against Arizona on June 23. He allowed four runs over five innings of work and took a no-decision. First pitch is at Yankee Stadium at 7:05pm.
Depressing. And agree completely – Hughes was deceptively bad – worse than he appeared. He kept doing what he'd done all season – pitching to contact, attacking, and trying to stay ahead in the count. But for whatever reason, every inning, enough people had his number that a run came across the plate. In the first few innings, he wasn't helped much by the defense; in particular, we missed Gardner's defense – Huffman looked like a young version of Thames on some of those plays. If you have a dvr, or MLB – check out his job of corralling what turned into a triple in the first inning. While you're at it, watch Granderson morph into the guy Detroit was glad to get rid of, as he bobbled a ball on the ground, picked it up,m and then dropped it again as he tried to throw it. Sad.
Tamar (or Jason, or anyone else who has the keys to IIATMS ) – could someone maybe explain, perhaps in its own thread, how a "complimentary" player like Swish can nail two homers, while the Money Twins can go 1-8, with the only hit coming from Teix in garbage time? Just curious – I'm not an ex-player, so it is kinda hard to understand. Explanations welcome. Thanks.