Mariners End Yankees' Seven-Game Win Streak
POSTED: 12:19 am EDT July 3,
2009
Bronx, NY -- (Sports Network) - Russell Branyan belted a two-run homer and the Mariners pounded CC Sabathia early on the way to an 8-4 win, ending New York's winning streak at seven contests.Franklin Gutierrez had three hits, including a solo homer, and Ichiro Suzuki doubled twice and drove in two runs for the Mariners, who had lost their previous 10 games in the Bronx. Chris Woodward also had two RBI for Seattle, which won for the eighth time in its last 12 contests overall. The Mariners also averted a sweep in the finale of the three-game series. Jason Vargas allowed four hits and four runs over the first four frames in the start for the Mariners. Miguel Batista (5-2) threw two hitless innings to get the win. Hideki Matsui belted a two-run homer and drove in three runs for the Yankees, while Robinson Cano had three hits and scored twice. Sabathia (7-5) was charged with 10 hits and six runs over 5 2/3 innings. He also walked three and struck out eight and lost for just the second time in his last 11 starts. Matsui's homer to right field in the fourth had the Yankees within 6-4. Seattle wasted a bases-loaded chance in the sixth, but then added to their lead in the ninth off Alfredo Aceves. Suzuki reached safely on first baseman Mark Teixeira's throwing error. Branyan, who had a career-high 10-game hitting streak snapped by striking out four times Wednesday night, then smoked the first pitch over the wall in center. It was the first home run hit off the glass facing of the Mohegan Sun Sports Bar at Yankee Stadium. "I had a hard time getting it going off the last two pitchers, Andy (Pettitte) and CC," said Branyan. "That last at-bat definitely helped. It definitely gives you confidence." David Aardsma nearly loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the ninth, giving up singles to Cano and Nick Swisher to begin the frame. Matsui then flied out to center field in a 10-pitch at-bat. Melky Cabrera also flied out and pinch-hitter Jorge Posada fanned to end the game. Suzuki started the game with a double, stole third with one out and scored on a Jose Lopez groundout. Seattle expanded the margin to 3-0 in the second. Gutierrez homered to left field. Kenji Johjima and Ryan Langerhans followed with singles before Woodward lifted a sacrifice fly. A Swisher sac fly got the Yankees on the scoreboard in the bottom of the frame, and a dropped ball by Suzuki in right field allowed Cano to score for a one-run difference. Woodward's RBI single and a Suzuki two-run double to the gap in left-center increased Seattle's lead to 6-2. "It was frustrating because we scored four runs. It should be enough to get the win, but I just wasn't on today," said Sabathia. "My delivery was just one of those days where I couldn't get the ball down. It was off the plate and put me in some tough counts." Game Notes The start of the game was delayed 36 minutes due to threatening weather...Actor Jack Nicholson was in attendance, sitting in the lower level behind home plate...The Mariners play a three-game series in Boston this weekend, while the Yankees host Toronto in a four-game set...Teixeira had gone 72 games at first base without committing an error this season. It was the longest current errorless stretch for any major league infielder and the longest in one season for a Yankees first baseman since Tino Martinez (82) in 1996. This was his first error since August 19, 2008...Seattle beat the Yankees for just the third time in the last 14 matchups...Suzuki recorded his major league-leading 37th multi-hit game this season and has yet to post consecutive hitless games in 2009...Branyan hit his team-leading 20th home run of the season...Gutierrez had his third three-hit game in his last five contests.
Copyright 2009 Courtesy of The Sports Network.







