Yankees, M’S Run Late

David Cone allowed one run in 5-2/3 innings and the New York bullpen turned back a Seattle threat in the eighth inning as the Yankees led the Mariners 5-3 at presstime Wednesday night at Safeco Field.

The Yankees built a 4-1 lead against Mariners starter Aaron Sele, who allowed four runs on six hits in 3-2/3 innings. New York added a run off Jose Paniagua in the eighth inning.

In the bottom of the eighth, Mark McLemore hit a two-run home run off Dwight Gooden.

The Mariners played without first baseman John Olerud, who missed the game against the New York Yankees on Wednesday night to be with his wife, Kelly, who gave birth to the couple’s second child, a girl.

Jordan Marie Olerud weighed in at 7 pounds, 1 ounce.

With Olerud absent, manager Lou Piniella inserted Raul Ibanez at first in the Mariners’ lineup against the New York Yankees.

Also, Rickey Henderson left the game after one inning Wednesday night because of lower back spasms.

Henderson was thrown out trying to steal second after reaching on shortstop Derek Jeter’s error leading off the bottom of the first.

He was replaced in left field by Stan Javier. Piniella said he expected Olerud, the only Mariner to play in all of the team’s first 132 games, to rejoin the team Friday night in Boston.

The Mariners will call up right-handers Kevin Hodges and Frankie Rodriguez, infielder-outfielder Charles Gipson and first baseman Brian Lesher from Triple-A Tacoma today, Piniella said.

Right-hander Joel Pineiro will be called up Monday from Seattle’s Pacific Coast League farm team when the Mariners are in Toronto, Piniella said.

The Mariners expect to have right fielder Jay Buhner back for the Boston series this weekend. Buhner, who has been on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right wrist and right pinky fingter, is back taking batting practice.

“Hopefully, we’ll get Jay off the DL Friday,” Piniella said. “He’s about 80 percent improved. Our plans are tentatively to have him back this weekend.”

Right-hander Gil Meche, who made 15 starts for Seattle this season, visited Dr. James Andrews, an orthopedic specialist, in Birmingham, Ala., this week and was advised to rest for six weeks, Piniella said.

“Dr. Andrews said there was nothing wrong with him,” Piniella said. “The doctor seems to think rest is the answer. Total rest. No throwing at all. That’s good news.”

Meche came out of a rehabilitation start at Class A Everett after one inning Sunday night.

Meche, 21, was supposed to be a mainstay in the Mariners’ rotation this season, but he has been limited to 15 starts. He has been on the disabled list twice this season with a strained right shoulder.

Meche made his last start for the Mariners July 4 in Anaheim, going 5 innings in a 7-6 loss. He was put on the DL July 31.