That trend continued at Safeco Field.
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The New York Yankees had an unexpected visitor Wednesday when a fan fell into their dugout during a road game against the Seattle Mariners. After the game, manager Scott Servais said the injury was a bad bruise and hopeful that Seager would be ready Thursday in Chicago. “That’s the first time that has happened in a long time”. I have to give credit to Sabathia. “He threw the ball really well”. Tanaka is 4-0 with a 2.40 ERA and 33 strikeouts in his career against the Mariners. That ERA is lowest of any American League team that Sabathia has faced in his 16-year MLB career.
“I got the hard-hit line drive double play today”, Sabathia said. “He knows how to pitch and he knows how to battle”.
Next up for the Yanks, who are back to their high-water mark again at 65-61, is a day off Thursday that will be followed by a short but big homestand. three games this weekend against Baltimore, now the leader for the AL’s second wild card. CC Sabathia was much better. Straily (10-6) hasn’t allowed more than two runs in any of his eight starts since the break, going 6-0. Textbook, pitching 101, back and forth, changing speeds, on the edges, pitching inside. “He was very effective against us tonight, obviously”.
Upon his return to the Mariners, Taijuan Walker did well until the fifth inning. “The fact that he’s facing Iwakuma probably makes it even more”.
Matched up against fellow Japan native Hisashi Iwakuma, Tanaka allowed six hits and one walk – his first in 32 innings – to improve to 11-4, lowering his ERA to 3.11.
“I definitely was not expecting that, especially that last at-bat because I think there was no outs so I thought they would let me hit”, Sanchez said through an interpreter.
Walker biggest mistake came in the fifth inning.
Sanchez homered off Mariners starter Hisashi Iwakuma in the first inning, a blast into the second deck in left field, for an early 1-0 lead.
“More than anything”, Tanaka said, “he’s trying and willing to understand what I’m trying to do”. “I’m hitting.195, of course you walk him there”.
Seven home runs in the past nine games will quickly earn anyone respect.
But the damage was done and Walker screamed his frustration into his glove as he left the mound.
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Tigers 8, Twins 3: Cameron Maybin drove in three runs, including a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth inning.
