August 14, 2009 in Sports

Yankees mash Mariners

Jeter, Matsui, Sabathia make up for key injuries

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SEATTLE – The New York Yankees keep rolling on, putting this one away before they even had a chance to miss Alex Rodriguez or Jorge Posada.

Derek Jeter homered before leaving early to rest, Hideki Matsui had his fourth career two-home run game and a season-high five RBIs and starter CC Sabathia struck out a season-high 10 as New York began its longest road trip of the year with an 11-1 easy win over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night.

The Yankees had a 5-0 lead one out into the third inning without Rodriguez, who may also miss today with a bruised elbow, and without Posada, their bruised catcher who said he could have played.

They didn’t need either one.

Sabathia (13-7) mixed a 96 mph fastball with sinkers and dancing off-speed pitches that had the A.L.’s lowest-scoring team flailing. He allowed just three hits and a solo home run in eight innings.

Recently acquired Jerry Hairston Jr. again proved to be an invaluable fill-in with a double, single and two RBIs subbing for Rodriguez at third base.

The Yankees won for the 10th time in 11 games to increase their lead in the A.L. East over the Bostong Red Sox to a season high-tying 6 1/2 games.

Sabathia’s only blemish was a home run in the fifth by Josh Wilson, selected Thursday from Triple-A Tacoma because shortstop Jack Wilson is out a few days with a pulled hamstring.

The Mariners lost for the third time in seven games. They took their most lopsided defeat since an 11-0 pounding at Minnesota on May 8, yet stayed 5 1/2 games behind Boston in the wild-card standings.

Ian Snell was left on the mound to absorb most of the beating. Snell (0-1), making his third start since Seattle acquired him from Pittsburgh on July 29, allowed nine hits and eight runs in six-plus innings.

Yankees 11, Mariners 1

LOB—New York 8, Seattle 3. 2B—Damon 2 (28), Teixeira (32), Hairston Jr. (1). HR—Jeter (14), off Snell; H.Matsui (18), off Snell; H.Matsui (19), off Olson; Jo.Wilson (1), off Sabathia. RBIs—Jeter (49), Teixeira (85), H.Matsui 5 (58), Me.Cabrera (46), Hairston Jr. 2 (5), Jo.Wilson (1). RLSP—New York 5 (J.Molina 2, Hairston Jr., H.Matsui, R.Pena); Seattle 1 (Jo.Wilson). RMU—Teixeira. GIDP—F.Gutierrez. DP—New York 1 (Jeter, Cano, Teixeira).

Inherited runners-scored—Olson 2-2. WP—Snell. T—2:42. A—33,585 (47,878).

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