Yankees game 65: Solid defense in Seattle sweep

New York Yankees 6 -- Seattle Mariners 3

The Yankees completed the sweep of Seattle with some solid defense and impressive pitching.

In vintage Derek Jeter form, the Yankees shortstop would hit a single to right field in the first inning. Jacoby Ellsbury would not wait long to extend his hitting streak to 16 games when he put the ball into the right center field crowd following Jeter's single. The two-run home run was his fourth of the season and it gave the Yankees an early two run lead.

The offense would be sparked by the Captain once more when he hit a single to center to start the third inning. Jacoby Ellsbury would walk to put two on in the inning. Mark Teixeira would fly out to right field but Alfonso Soriano, who had solid contact in his first inning fly out, made solid contact once again only this time it fell in for a hit. The two-run double by Soriano doubled the Yankees runs for the night.

On the pitching side, Chase Whitley entered with his first win in his previous start at Kansas City and looked to build on it for a winning streak. Whitley would get the early two run lead but surrendered a solo home run to Logan Morrison in the second inning. He would also overcome a failed pickoff for an error by catcher J.R. Murphy in the third inning. The Mariners would score one more run in the fifth inning but tonight was another outstanding start by the rookie.

In a career-high 7.2 innings, Chase Whitley allowed two runs on five hits while walking none and striking out six. He needed just 82 pitches and continues to be an impressive rookie.

A pitcher is nothing without his defense and tonight's game featured three stellar defensive plays in the outfield.

In the fifth inning, Chase Whitley would get in some trouble, a one-out double would come around to score on a two-out single by James Jones, to put the Yankees' lead at four. The next batter, Robinson Cano would hit a deep fly ball to center field but Jacoby Ellsbury would rob the former Yankee of sure extra bases.

The leaping catch, while it did not knock him out of the game, probably did not do the Yankees spectacular center fielder any favors. Jacoby Ellsbury exited  with right hip tightness but it would just be a precautionary move. This would force Brett Gardner to man center field with some defensive rearranging. With one out, catcher Mike Zunino would try to go deep but Brett Gardner would climb the wall and come down with the dramatic catch to rob the Mariners of extra bases.

The last outstanding catch by the speedy portion of the outfield came in the ninth inning. To open the ninth inning, with the return of Shawn Kelley, Stefen Romero hit a deep fly ball to right field but Ichiro Suzuki would rob him of extra bases.

With a four-run lead, Kelley would give up a pair of doubles that made it a three-run game. A rough return to the majors would be cut short with David Robertson called on for the save. The Yankees closer attacked the strike zone, throwing eight pitches, all for strikes and resulted in two strikeouts to end the game and complete the sweep.

Win - Chase Whitley (2-0)

Loss - Roenis Elias (5-5)

Save - David Robertson (16)

Notables

Yankees

*Derek Jeter - 3 for 4, 2 R, BB, 2 RBI (14)

*Jacoby Ellsbury - 1 for 3, 2 R, BB, 2-Run Home Run (4) in the 1st, 2 RBI (29)

Mariners

*Logan Morrison - 2 for 4, R, 2B, Solo Home Run (1) in the 2nd, 2 RBI (2)

*James Jones - 1 for 4, RBI (6)

Current Yankees Record: 34-31