One-time hero-now-scorned Robinson Cano had the first laugh in his new life as a Mariner Tuesday, driving in one run, scoring another, getting a hit and stealing a base while his Seattle buddies had a 15-hit attack for a 6-3 triumph at damp, blustery, sparsely occupied Yankee Stadium.
Cano, the subject during his first return to New York of numerous media stories, a hilarious skit on “The Tonight Show” and a pre-game press conference with more than 60 media members in attendance, didn’t look great in his first two at-bats (strikeout and groundout) as boos and heckles filled his ears.
But he ignited a four-run fifth when his bases-loaded ground out to first base brought in the Mariners’ first run.
Trailing 2-1 with one out, Seattle’s Corey Hart jumped on a fastball from veteran ace C.C. Sabathia for a double into the right-center gap, scoring Willie Bloomquist and Abraham Almonte, each of whom singled. Hart came home with the inning’s fourth run on a single by Justin Smoak.
In the seventh after Sabathia had been chased, Cano was aboard on an infield single and stole second. After Hart and Smoak struck out, pinch-hitter Dustin Ackley singled off reliever Dellin Betances. After he was replaced by Preston Claiborne, Kyle Seager singled Ackley to third, from where he scored on a single from Mike Zunino, part of a 4-for-5 night.
“I thought our at-bats were good all night,” manager Lloyd McClendon said. “We ran the counts deep and got (Sabathia’s) pitch count up. We thought we’d have a chance.”
Chris Young provided another creditable start, getting his first win as a Mariner, going 5.2 innings and allowing two runs on three hits and three walks, while striking out three. His only big mistake was a second-inning solo homer to Mark Teixeira into the short porch in right. Relievers Charlie Furbush, Danny Farquhar and Fernando Rodney closed out, with Rodney giving up a final run in the ninth.
Besides Zunino’s four hits, Bloomquist, Ackley and Smoak each had two hits. The Mariners (11-14) have won four of their past five. The AL East-leading Yankees fell to 15-11.
Notes
The game began at 46 degrees with wind gusts up to 30 mph. Rain began mid-game. The Wednesday forecast includes rain. If the series second game is postponed, there was post-game talk of a possible doubleheader Thursday. The original game is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. PT . . . . Zunino, whom McClendon said was not 100 percent because of illness, became the 11th Mariners catcher with four or more hits in a game . . . In his pre-game presser, Cano avoided much dialogue on his departure from the Yankees, which he said in his first press conference in Seattle was caused by a “lack of respect” from the Yankees. “One thing to understand, this is a business,” Cano said. “I can’t control the Yankees. I can control myself. They made that decision, and we’re both happy. I’m happy where I am now. I’m happy to be a Mariner. And good luck to them.” . . . Injured starter Hisashi Iwakuma rejoined the team in New York. He is a possibility to pitch Friday in Houston . . . Ackley And Brad Miller were held out of the starting lineup again. McClendon said it was because of a bad matchup with lefty Sabathia.
1 Comment
Funny how it was rainy, windy and temps in the 40s in NYC and it was clear, sunny and 77 here. I’d say the rain worked in the M’s favor but since Safeco Field has a roof and Yankee Stadium doesn’t that really doesn’t apply here. Always good to see the evil empire take a fall, though I’m rooting for the Yankees this year. Just because it’d be funny to see them win it all with ARod on suspension.