Yankees 7, Mariners 2
SEATTLE -- On a night when his one-time mentor was struggling through one of the worst outings of his career, Michael Pineda was making a triumphant return.
The New York Yankees' 26-year-old starting pitcher went back to Safeco Field, the ballpark where he started his major league career, and out-dueled former teammate Felix Hernandez on the way to a 7-2 win over the Seattle Mariners.
Pineda (7-2) allowed two earned runs over six innings, while Hernandez turned in his worst start of the season and one of the most forgettable of his 10-year career. The 29-year-old Hernandez (8-2) allowed season highs of seven earned runs and five walks in 4 2/3 innings.
Pineda, meanwhile, was nearly flawless for six innings before the Mariners finally got to him in the seventh. A Mark Teixeira grand slam in the fifth inning had helped give Pineda a 7-0 lead, and he had nine strikeouts and just four hits allowed over six scoreless innings before Seattle opened the seventh with three consecutive hits.
The Yankees (27-25) had just seven hits but got plenty of offense, thanks to Teixeira's grand slam, a wild pitch and five walks.
Seattle (24-27) lost its third game in a row and could match its longest losing streak of the season if the Yankees win on Tuesday night. Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon shook up his batting order before the game, but Seattle didn't get a single runner past first base until the seventh inning.
Hernandez retired the first nine batters before running into trouble in the fourth.
After giving up back-to-back singles to center fielder Brett Gardner and third baseman Chase Headley to lead off the inning, Hernandez threw a wild pitch that got past catcher Mike Zunino and brought in Gardner from third base for the first run of the game. Hernandez then walked the next two batters before Headley scored on a bases-loaded double play for a 2-0 New York lead.
The Yankees had two hits and three walks in the fourth, yet scored both runs without the benefit of an RBI.
Things got even worse for Hernandez in the fifth. Two walks and a single loaded the bases before he finally got an out -- on a Headley sacrifice fly that increased the Yankees' lead to 3-0. Designated hitter Alex Rodriguez loaded the bases again with a single before Teixeira stepped in and delivered his ninth career grand slam, and his 15th home run of the year, on a 2-0 pitch. Right fielder Carlos Beltran's double two batters later ended Hernandez's night after 85 pitches.
The five walks and seven earned runs were season highs for Hernandez, who went into the game ranked third in the American League with a 1.95 ERA. By the time the book was closed on him after Monday's fifth inning, his season ERA had risen to 2.63.
Hernandez had given up eight total runs over five starts in May. One start into June, he's already allowed seven runs.
NOTES: Seattle still has not named a Tuesday starter, but LHP Mike Montgomery was in the clubhouse late Monday afternoon and appears to be the guy who will replace injured starter James Paxton. The 25-year-old Montgomery would be making his major league debut, as he never made it to the big league during seven seasons in the Kansas City and Tampa Bay organizations. ... The Mariners promoted Mayckol Guaipe, a right-handed reliever, from Triple-A before Monday's game. To make room for Guaipe, Seattle optioned SS Chris Taylor to Triple-A. ... Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon shuffled his lineup Monday, with 1B Logan Morrison leading off for the first time and 2B Robinson Cano moving up one spot to bat second. RF Nelson Cruz (No. 3) and 3B Kyle Seager (cleanup) also moved up from their usual spots. ... The Yankees announced that RHP Adam Warren will remain in the rotation, with LHP Chris Capuano moving to the bullpen to clear room for the return of Masahiro Tanaka. Warren had a 3.41 ERA in May, earning him a longer look as a starter, while Capuano is the fourth lefty reliever in the bullpen. Tanaka is scheduled to start Wednesday's game at Seattle, although the Yankees will have to activate him from the 15-day disabled list first.