Gamel steers Mariners home in close battle

Ex-Yankees man grabs the chance to prove his worth against previous employers

Ben Gamel showed the Yankees his value as an everyday player. Gamel, who began his career with New York, homered early, doubled and scored on Nelson Cruz’s 10th-inning single that lifted the Seattle Mariners to a 6-5 win Saturday night.

“I can’t think this organisation enough for giving me an opportunity,” said Gamel, acquired from the Yankees last August. “It’s been kind of an up-and-down career so far. Love it over here.”

Masahiro Tanaka had another shaky outing as New York trailed 4-2 before Aaron Judge hit his major league-leading 32nd home run, a sixth inning drive against Steve Cishek. Matt Holliday’s sacrifice fly tied the score in the eighth, but former Yankee Robinson Cano homered against David Robertson leading off the bottom half.

“The pitch was about as good as I could throw it,” said Robertson, who returned to the Yankees last week in a trade from the Chicago White Sox.

Edwin Diaz blew a save for the fourth time in 22 chances when Didi Gregorius walked leading off the ninth, pinchrunner Jacoby Ellsbury stole second and Torreyes followed by a single.

Gamel opened the 10th with a double against Adam Warren (2-2), Cano was intentionally walked and Cruz lined a pitch to left for his AL-leading 75th RBI.

“I saw Warren yesterday and knew how he pitched me last night,” said Gamel, hitting .321 after beginning the season at Triple-A Tacoma. “I kind of had a pitch in mind and I got it.”

Tony Zych (4-2) pitched a perfect 10th, throwing called third strikes past Clint Frazier and Judge.

The Yankees went 2 for 8 with LA DODGERS SEATTLE LA ANGELS COLORADO Washington KANSAS CITY Texas MINNESOTA Miami NY METS CLEVELAND Houston Milwaukee SAN FRANCISCO CHICAGO CUBS 6 6 7 7 4 7 4 6 5 6 2 8 9 5 3 Atlanta NY Yankees Boston Pittsburgh ARIZONA Chicago WS TAMPA BAY Detroit CINCINNATI Oakland Toronto BALTIMORE PHILADELPHIA San Diego St. Louis 2 5 3 3 3 2 3 5 4 5 1 4 8 4 2 runners in scoring position and fell to 9-19 in one-run games.