The Sports Xchange
Jul 21, 2017
SEATTLE -- All-Star Luis Severino pitched seven scoreless innings, and Brett Gardner hit a home run as the New York Yankees defeated the Seattle Mariners 4-1 Thursday night at Safeco Field.
Severino (6-4), a 23-year-old right-hander who was winless in his previous six starts, allowed eight hits and one walk but got out of several jams. He struck out six and retired the side in order only once, in the sixth inning.
Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman closed out the victory, each pitching an inning of relief. Chapman yielded Seattle's only run.
The Mariners wasted a strong start by longtime ace Felix Hernandez, stranding 11 runners. Hernandez (5-4) allowed just three hits and one run in seven innings and struck out a season-high nine.
Gardner broke a scoreless tie with a solo homer with one out in the top of the sixth inning. He hit a 2-1 pitch from Hernandez into the right field seats, a shot estimated at 406 feet. It was Gardner's 16th home run of the season.
It was just the Yankees' second hit of the night off Hernandez.
New York added three unearned runs over the final two innings.
With one out in the eighth, Chase Headley singled to center off left-handed reliever James Pazos, and Gardner reached on an error by Seattle shortstop Jean Segura. Right-hander Tony Zych relieved Pazos and walked Gary Sanchez to load the bases for Aaron Judge.
Judge, who was in a 3-for-28 slump since winning the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game in Miami, hit a run-scoring single to right field to make it 2-0.
Zych got out of the jam by getting Matt Holliday to ground into an inning-ending double play.
The Mariners threatened in the bottom of the eighth against Betances, as Kyle Seager was hit by a pitch with one out and Danny Valencia grounded a single to right field, putting runners at first and second.
Mitch Haniger hit a comebacker to the mound, with Betances throwing to second baseman Starlin Castro to get a force on Valencia. Castro bobbled the ball, and the Mariners challenged the call by second base umpire Rob Drake, but the out was confirmed after video review.
With runners at first and third, Betances struck out Jarrod Dyson to end the inning.
The Yankees scored twice more in the ninth. With one out, Didi Gregorius and Todd Frazier singled off right-hander Max Povse. After Jacoby Ellsbury flied out to left, Headley hit a ground ball between first and second. Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano went into shallow right field to field the ball, but his throw to first was errant, allowing both runners to score.
In the bottom of the ninth, Chapman walked leadoff hitter Mike Zunino and threw a wild pitch before striking out the next two batters. Cano, a former Yankee, spoiled the shutout bid with a two-out, run-scoring double to right-center field. Chapman got Nelson Cruz to fly out to right field to end the game.
NOTES: The Mariners acquired RHP David Phelps from Miami on Thursday in exchange for four prospects: CF Brayan Hernandez and RHPs Brandon Miller, Pablo Lopez and Lucas Schiraldi. Phelps was 2-4 with a 3.45 ERA in 44 relief appearances for the Marlins this season. ... First base umpire Tony Randazzo was hit in the head by a line drive from Yankees SS Didi Gregorius in the fifth inning. Mariners 1B Danny Valencia made a diving attempt for the foul ball, and the ball glanced off Randazzo's head, sending him tumbling to the ground. Valencia and Yankees first base coach Tony Pena helped Randazzo to his feet, and the ump was checked by Mariners trainer Rick Griffin before play resumed. ... Yankees LHP CC Sabathia (8-3, 3.54 ERA) is scheduled to take on Mariners rookie RHP Andrew Moore (1-1, 5.25) in the second game of the series Friday night.