Yankees 2, Mariners 1
NEW YORK -- First baseman Mark Teixeira hit a tiebreaking home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning and the New York Yankees edged the Seattle Mariners 2-1 on Sunday.
Teixeira helped give the Yankees their ninth win in 13 games when he slugged a 1-2 changeup from Fernando Rodney (2-4) into the right-field seats. It was his 23rd home run and increased his league-leading RBI total to 63.
Teixeira's home run also represented the second time this weekend against Seattle that the Yankees struck with some late power. They opened the series by getting a tiebreaking home run by designated hitter Alex Rodriguez in the seventh inning off left-hander Joe Beimel on Friday.
The home run came shortly after Teixeira helped the Yankees with his defense. With one out in the eighth after second baseman Robinson Cano walked against Dellin Betances (6-2), right fielder Nelson Cruz hit a high popup that veered into foul territory, but Teixeira leaned over into the first row of the stands and made the catch for the second out.
After Betances walked pinch hitter Seth Smith, he retired first baseman Mark Trumbo, and Andrew Miller pitched a hitless ninth for his 20th save in as many opportunities.
Teixeira's big plays in the eighth inning came after left-hander CC Sabathia delivered an effective showing, allowing one run and six hits over six innings on a day when the temperature was 92 at first pitch. Sabathia struck out Cano twice on sliders while getting seven overall and threw 87 pitches.
Seattle ace Felix Hernandez also went six innings, allowing one run and five hits in six innings. He struck out five, walked three and threw 97 pitches.
The game was scoreless until the fifth.
Center fielder Austin Jackson gave Seattle the lead with a one-out RBI single, but Sabathia escaped further trouble by using his slider to strike out third baseman Kyle Seeger and Cano.
The Yankees tied it with two outs in the sixth on a run-scoring single by right fielder Carlos Beltran, but Hernandez retired third baseman Chase Headley to end it.
NOTES: New York activated OF Carlos Beltran from the DL after he missed 11 games with a strained left oblique. Beltran was activated despite not taking any live at-bats against left-handed pitching in three rehab games but said he batted right-handed while taking swings in the batting cage. ... The Yankees made room for Beltran by optioning 2B Rob Refsnyder back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after the prospect was 2-for-12 in four games. "I'd be lying to say that I wasn't anxious to get to this level to kind of see what the quality of baseball was, how much of a difference," Refsndyer said. "I felt comfortable. I never felt overwhelmed. I took a lot of positives out of it. I competed, I helped the team win and it was a good experience." ... LHP J.A. Happ is slated to start Monday in Detroit after throwing a bullpen session and a few side sessions at Class A Bakersfield. Manager Lloyd McClendon said the Mariners would make a roster move after Sunday's game to get Happ on the roster. ... The Yankees have three players that have at least 20 at-bats and a .300 batting average against RHP Felix Hernandez in OFs Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury and 1B Mark Teixeira.