Yankees Game 124: Sanchez, Castro double bombs not enough in defeat
Gary Sanchez and Starlin Castro provided four home runs but the Mariners offense struck back in the New York Yankees loss.
New York Yankees 5 – Seattle Mariners 7 After winning two out of three in Anaheim, the Yankees traveled up the coast to face the Seattle Mariners. In the first inning against Cody Martin, Gary Sanchez added to his remarkable month by hitting a solo home run. In the second inning, Starlin Castro added a solo home run as well to put the Yankees ahead by two.
Through the first two innings, Michael Pineda counted on his defense to bail him out as a pair of double plays ended potential rallies. Following a perfect third inning, Pineda struggled in the fourth inning. Seth Smith led off with a double and Robinson Cano got on base with a single. After a fielder's choice caught the lead runner off of third base, Kyle Seager turned the tide of the game with a three-run home run to straightaway center field, giving the Mariners the lead in an instant. In the sixth inning, Jacoby Ellsbury got on with a one-out single and Gary Sanchez continued to be a monster with the bat when he hit his second home run of night, a two-run home run to center field that put the Yankees back ahead. Then with two outs, Starlin Castro followed suit and hit his second home run of the night, another solo home run provided insurance for Pineda and the Yankees.
Pineda struggled in the bottom of the sixth inning. After Cano reached with a single, Kyle Seager walked with one out and subsequently ended Pineda's night on the mound. Tommy Layne entered to face Adam Lind and got him to pop out for the second out of the inning. Anthony Swarzak was next out of the bullpen and he was tasked with getting Mike Zunino to keep the lead. Unfortunately, Zunino got the best of Swarzak when he hit a three-run home run to right to turn the tide yet again as the Mariners took a one-run lead. In 5 1/3 innings, Michael Pineda allowed five runs on seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
After a scoreless seventh inning by Kirby Yates, he returned for the eighth inning but could not escape unscathed. With one out, Nelson Cruz hit a laser solo home run to left field to add an insurance run for the Mariners. With a two-run lead, closer Edwin Diaz came in and was immediately wild. After a walk of Brian McCann, he received a favorable called third strike of Aaron Judge before Chase Headley reached base as the potential tying run with a single. Pinch-hitter Mark Teixeira flew out to shallow left after a balk but neither runner was able to advance a base. Brett Gardner grounded out to end the inning and the game. Win – Nick Vincent (3-3) Loss – Anthony Swarzak (1-2) Save – Edwin Diaz (10) Notables Yankees *Gary Sanchez – 3 for 4, 2 R, 2 HR (8; Solo & Two-run) in the 1st & 6th, 3 RBI (15) *Starlin Castro – 2 for 4, 2 R, Two solo home runs (17) in the 2nd & 6th, 2 RBI (56) Mariners *Kyle Seager – 2 for 3, 2 R, Three-run home run (24) in the 4th, 3 RBI (83) *Mike Zunino – 1 for 4, R, Three-run home run (9) in the 6th, 3 RBI (21) Current Yankees Record: 63-61