Mariners fall short against Yankees

Published 1:30 am Saturday, September 8, 2018

Associated Press

SEATTLE — Andrew McCutchen hit his second home run in two days, Dellin Betances pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning and the New York Yankees held on to beat the Seattle Mariners 4-2 on Saturday night.

Austin Romine hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh for the Yankees, who moved within 7½ games of first-place Boston in the American League East with 20 to play. New York leads Oakland by 3½ games for the league’s top wild card.

Seattle loaded the bases with one out against Betances, but he struck out Denard Span and Kyle Seager to earn his third save.

Yankees starter Lance Lynn (9-10) allowed three hits and two runs in six innings. Lynn is 2-2 in eight starts with the team.

Mariners starter Felix Hernandez left in the fifth with right hamstring tightness.

McCutchen led off the game by sending Hernandez’s changeup down the left-field line and into the seats for his second home run with the Yankees.

Mike Zunino tied it in the third with a homer to straightaway center, his 19th of the season.

Giancarlo Stanton gave the Yankees a 2-1 lead in the fifth on a sacrifice fly to right. The inning started with back-to-back walks by Hernandez before he exited with the hamstring injury.

A bloop single to left by Dee Gordon scored Ben Gamel from second and tied the game at 2 in the fifth.

Romine’s home run in the seventh off reliever Nick Vincent (3-3) put the Yankees back in front. Gleyber Torres added a sacrifice fly in the ninth.