Yankees Sink Mariners 6-2

The Yankees (63-44) handled the Mariners (51-59) beating them 6-2 in the rubber game of the weekend series on Sunday afternoon. Freddy Garcia pitched well in his start going five innings giving up two runs on five hits and striking out two.  The Yankee bullpen was nearly perfect in their four innings of work only allowing one base runner, a walk issued by David Robertson in the eighth.

The Mariners jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first when former Yankee Jesus Montero drilled an RBI single to center field scoring Dustin Ackley who had led off the game with a single. Montero also drove in the other Mariner run when he ripped an RBI single scoring Michael Saunders in the fifth inning. Montero finished 2-4 with 2 RBI.

Mariner’s starter Hisashi Iwakuma struggled in his start going five innings giving up four runs on seven hits and striking out four. In the first inning the Yankees tied up the game at 1 when Mark Teixeira beat out a slow roller to second base scoring Derek Jeter. In the second inning the Yanks added another run when Curtis Granderson reached on an error by first basemen Dustin Ackley allowing Chris Stewart to score.  In the fourth inning Derek Jeter lined a RBI single over the leap of shortstop Muneori Kawasaki scoring Chris Stewart and putting the Yankees up 3-1.

In the fifth inning Raul Ibanez lifted a towering solo home run off to right field over the Yankee bullpen. It was Ibanez 15^th of the season.  In the seventh inning with the bases loaded it was Raul Ibanez again ripping a two run double off of Seattle reliever Oliver Perez putting the Yankees up 6-2. Ibanez finished the game going 2-4 with 3 RBI. Chris Stewart, Yankees backup catcher went 2-3 with three runs scored and stole his first base of the season.

The Yankees will travel to Detroit to start a four game series with the Tigers on Monday night. Ivan Nova (10-5 4.53) will start for the Yankees while Justin Verlander (11-7 2.63) will go for the Tigers. Pregame coverage begins at 6:30, first pitch at 7:05 right here on 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio.