Yankees 2, Mariners 1: Offense does just enough to win pitcher's duel

The Yankees had a tough task in the finale of the four game set in Seattle. Felix Hernandez started for Seattle, and pitched every bit as good as he can. But David Phelps matched him inning for inning, and the offense eventually got to the Mariners' bullpen as the Yankees came away with a 2-1 win against the Mariners.

In the first inning, the Yankees threatened to score when they loaded the bases, but they came away with nothing. But they did open the game's scoring in the second inning. Jayson Nix led off with a single and stole second during Reid Brignac's at bat. After Brignac struck out, Chris Stewart came up. Stewart managed to bunt his way on to first, advancing Nix to third in the process. Brett Gardner was up next, and he looped a ball into center field to score Nix, making it 1-0 Yankees. Robinson Cano's double play ended the threat in the second, and the Mariners answered right back in the bottom half of the inning.

After Raul Ibanez led off with a ground out, Kelly Shoppach hit a double off of Phelps. Michael Saunders was up next and he grounded out, but it was enough to move Shoppach to third. Phelps then walked Alex Liddi to put runners at the corners. Brendan Ryan came up next and he hit a little grounder that just made it past Nix at third base. Brignac did manage to make a diving stop on the ball, but by the time he got up there was no play and the tying run scored.

From there the game turned into a pitcher's duel, with Felix doing what Felix tends to do, while Phelps matched him every step of the way. Both teams had chances and put runners on, but neither team managed to add another run against the opposing starter. Phelps was pulled after 6 innings, having allowed the one run on three hits and three walks, while striking out six. Hernandez went seven innings, allowing one run on five hits and two walks, while he struck out seven.

The Yankees turned it over to their bullpen in the seventh inning, when Boone Logan struck out two in a 1-2-3 inning. The Mariners went to their pen in the eighth, and the Yankees immediately got a chance to take a lead.

Cano led off the inning, and was hit by a Charlie Furbush pitch. He managed to advance to second on a wild pitch during Mark Teixeira's at bat. Teixiera later struck out swining, and Travis Hafner popped up, leaving the inning up to Vernon Wells. The Mariners went back to the bullpen to bring in Yoervis Medina to face Vern. Wells got ahead in the count 3-1, but grounded one back to the pitcher to end the inning, keeping the game tied.

David Robertson was brought in to pitch the eighth inning. He gave up a lead off double to Alex Liddi, giving the Mariners a golden chance of their own. Brendan Ryan was up next and he laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Liddi to third. Robertson fought back and struck out Jason Bay and Nick Franklin to get out of the inning with the game still tied.

Medina stayed in the game to pitch the ninth for Seattle, and started off the inning by walking Ichiro on five pitches. Nix bunted Ichiro over to again put the go ahead run in scoring position. Brignac came up next but he could only hit a short fly out to left. This brought Chris Stewart to the plate. Stewart poked one through infield and into the left field. Ichiro rounded third and went to home. Raul Ibanez's throw was off line, and Ichiro was able to score, and the Yankees retook the lead.

Oliver Perez then came in for the Mariners. He faced Gardner, who hit a infield single on a ball that hit off Perez. This put runners at the corners for Robinson Cano. Cano drew a walk to load the bases for Teixeira. Tex struck out for the fourth time on the day, and left just a one run lead for Mo to work with.

Mariano Rivera came in to pitch the ninth inning for the Yankees. Kyle Seager led off with a single on the first pitch Mo threw. Kendrys Morales came up next and he hit a well-hit grounder at Teixera. Tex made up for his strikeouts by making a nice stop on the ball before stepping on first and firing it over to second for a double play. Mo walked Ibanez on five pitches to keep the game alive. Endy Chavez came in to pinch hit, and he managed to slap a single just past Nix at third to keep the game alive still. Michael Saunders came up next and he popped up the first pitch he saw, ending the game. The Yankees came away with a 2-1 win and a series win in Seattle.

The Yankees have the day off tomorrow, but will continue their West Coast road trip with a series in Oakland starting Tuesday. CC Sabathia will get the start, while former Yankee Bartolo Colon will go for the A's. First pitch on Tuesday is at 10:05 eastern.

Box score. Graph Thingy.