NEW YORK – The Yankees took advantage of a week Seattle club this week, taking the first two games of the series Tuesday and Wednesday nights before falling in the series finale last night. The Yankees welcome Toronto for the start of a four-game weekend series today, one that will include the best pitcher in the American League, Roy Halladay, taking the hill for the Blue Jays.
Unfortunately, the Yankees meet their divisional rival having watched their seven-game win streak come to an end Thursday against the Mariners.
Seattle is not a good baseball team, but you have to give the Yankees credit for taking care of business. New York has played down to competition several times this season; losing games it has no business losing.
That wasn’t case against the Mariners as the Yankees continued their solid play, winning yet another series.
Tuesday night, Melky Cabrera’s go-ahead double in the eighth inning helped the Yankees beat the Mariners 8-5 in the opener for their sixth straight win. Alex Rodriguez hit his 565th career homer and Cabrera drove in three runs as the Bombers won their ninth in a row at home over Seattle, dating back to 2007.
Tuesday’s win proved once again as A-Rod goes, the Yankees go. Wednesday brought more of the same. The streaking slugger hit a tie-breaking homer and Andy Pettitte pitched seven strong innings, leading the Yankees over the Mariners 4-2 for their seventh consecutive victory.
A fatigued Rodriguez, who had hip surgery in March, was held out of the lineup June 19-20 in Florida. Soon after, his swing started to come around. Now, the three-time MVP is on a hitting tear. In his last seven games, he is 10-for-23 with four homers, 13 RBIs and 10 walks.
Russell Branyan had a bounce back game and the Mariners salvaged the final game of the series last night. Branyan rebounded from a frustrating string of strikeouts with a mammoth homer over Monument Park, and the Mariners beat CC Sabathia and the Yankees 8-4 to snap the New York’s seven-game winning streak.
The Yankees will look to bounce back in a quick turnaround against a tough Blue Jay team Friday.
Notes: On Wednesday, July 1, prior to the Yankees-Mariners game, the Yankees honored the 150th anniversary of Fordham University's baseball program with school president Joseph M. McShane, S.J., throwing out the game’s ceremonial first pitch. The Yankees also invited the Fordham Prep baseball team, which won the Class A high school championship this year…Over their last 16 games, Yankees pitchers own a 2.81 ERA (141.01 IP, 44 ER) with a .215 opponents batting average, leading the majors over that stretch in both categories…A-Rod is 10-for-his-last-26…In Thursday’s loss, first baseman Mark Teixeira was charged with a ninth-inning throwing error. It was his first error since 8/19/08, snapping a 106-game errorless streak at first base…On Saturday, July 4th, the Yankees will honor Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig during pre-game ceremonies. This year marks the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day, when he gave his “Luckiest Man” speech and his No. 4 jersey was retired – the first in sports history…Each of the four games this weekend, through Monday, are day games.
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