Mariners lose as Yankees finally win a series again
SEATTLE — The New York Yankees won a series for the first time in six weeks when Aroldis Chapman struck out Ben Gamel with a runner on to preserve a 6-4 victory over Seattle on Sunday, their third win in four games against the Mariners on the weekend.
The Yankees had been 0-8-2 in series since sweeping Baltimore on June 9-11. New York had lost 13 straight games with a chance to win a series.
“We really had a hard time,” manager Joe Girardi said. “We had built to where we got pretty far over .500, but we fell and we were struggling and we were having a hard time winning games.
“To only be 2 1/2 out, we have still got a ton of games in our division, you feel pretty fortunate.”
After Seattle overcame a 3-0 deficit with a four-run fourth inning against Caleb Smith, Brett Gardner hit a tying, bases-loaded single in the sixth and Clint Frazier followed with a two-run double off former Yankee James Pazos (2-3).
Didi Gregorius had his first career multihomer game with solo shots in the second and fourth innings for New York, both on 0-1 pitches from Yovani Gallardo. Gregorius has 14 home runs.
“Obviously, Gregorius had (Gallardo’s) number today with the two home runs,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “But give him credit. He did hang in there. We needed to get five innings out of him and we did.”
Gardner opened the game with his 17th home run.
A converted starter pitching on consecutive days for the first time in his big-league career, Chad Green (1-0) struck out three in 2 1/3 perfect innings. Dellin Betances and David Robertson each threw a hitless inning, and Chapman had another shaky finish for his 11th save.
Nelson Cruz led off the ninth with a single that smashed off Chapman and deflected toward shortstop for an infield hit.
After Chapman was checked by Girardi, the closer picked off pinch-runner Taylor Motter between first and second. But Kyle Seager followed with a double off a 101 mph fastball, before Mitch Haniger popped out and Gamel went down swinging.
Smith made his first big-league start and second appearance. He failed to finish the fourth inning, getting chased by Guillermo Heredia’s two-run double. Smith allowed four runs in 3 2/3 innings.
The Mariners are 2-13 in their last 15 games against New York at Safeco Field, losing seven straight series.