📌 Join the BPCrew Chapter in your city and meet up with more Yankees fans! 👉 CLICK HERE

August 17, 1996: Yankees lose to Mariners 10-3


The Yankees held a team meeting prior to tonight’s game in order to stay on track and focus on the task at hand. “Just to let them know we believe in them,” Joe Torre said. “I just thought it was time we talked about it a little. In case a couple of people were down.”

Well, the meeting didn’t work.

Kenny Rogers lasted just three innings this afternoon, giving up eight runs on eight hits as the Yankees lost again to Seattle by a score of 10-3. Mariners starter Jamie Moyer went seven-and-one-third innings, surrendering just three runs while striking out five. Luckily, the Orioles also lost, keeping the Yankees’ lead in the division at 5.5 games.

Alex Rodriguez started the scoring for Seattle when he smacked a 416-foot home run to to centerfield, which landed in the black seats. He became just the tenth player since the Stadium was renovated to hit a ball into the black. “I knew I hit it well, but I didn’t know where it landed. I didn’t know there was history behind it,” he said. (Via NY Times)

Rodriguez, who was born in New York and drafted by the Mariners, spoke of the possibility  of playing in New York at some point in his career. “I love New York, I was born here,” Rodriguez said. “But the Yankees have Derek Jeter, a good friend of mine. And I was thinking, I can’t come back to New York and play for the Mets, either. They’ve got Rey Ordonez. So there’s no chance.” (Via NY Times)

Rogers went on to allow four runs in the third, and put runners on first and second in the fourth before giving way to reliever Bob Wickman. Wickman allowed a sac fly RBI to Rodriguez, and then a two-run home run to Ken Griffey Jr. All of a sudden, it was 9-0 and the Yankees were embarrassed.

“I made mistakes,” Rogers said. “Anything you want to say, I probably did it today.” (Via NY Times) The Yankees’ offense didn’t help much, either. Wade Boggs knocked in two with a double in the fifth inning, cutting the lead to 9-2. Bernie Williams then hit a home run in the sixth, but that’s as close as New York would get on the night.

“We’re not hitting right now,” Torre said. “It doesn’t matter who pitches against us.” (Via NY Times)

The Yankees play game three of the four game set tomorrow afternoon. Dwight Gooden faces off against Terry Mulholland.

Box score and current stats

 

          1 2 3  4 5 6  7 8 9   R  H  E
          - - -  - - -  - - -   -  -  -
Mariners  2 0 4  3 0 0  0 0 1  10 12  0
Yankees   0 0 0  0 2 1  0 0 0   3  8  0


Batting      AB R H RBI BB SO  BA  OBP  SLG
                                                       
Jeter SS      4 0 0  0  0  0 .311 .370 .423
Boggs 3B      4 0 2  2  0  1 .318 .394 .403
ONeill RF     4 0 0  0  0  1 .297 .412 .451
Fielder 1B    4 0 1  0  0  1 .251 .354 .483
B.Williams CF 4 1 2  1  0  0 .302 .381 .532
Raines LF     4 0 1  0  0  0 .281 .381 .393
Strawberry DH 3 0 1  0  1  2 .268 .376 .545
Duncan 2B     4 1 1  0  0  0 .320 .331 .459
Girardi C     3 1 0  0  0  1 .296 .353 .364


2B:Boggs (25)
HR:B.Williams (23)
RBI:Boggs 2 (33); B.Williams (76).


Pitching       IP H R ER BB SO  ERA
                                             
Rogers L (10-6) 3 8 8  8  1  0 4.52
Mecir         1.2 2 1  1  2  1 4.70
Pavlas        2.1 0 0  0  0  3 0.00
Polley          1 1 1  1  0  0 8.56
Wickman         1 1 0  0  0  0 4.54