Seattle @ New York preview
Yankee Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 4, 2012 ) Seattle 1, NY Yankees 0
Although Ichiro Suzuki has hit safely in all 11 games since he was traded July 23, his former team isn't doing too shabby in its own right. The Seattle Mariners will vie for their ninth win in 10 outings Sunday when they play the rubber match of their road series against the New York Yankees. Mike Carp's RBI single in the second inning was all the offense needed by Felix Hernandez, who allowed two hits in Saturday's 1-0 triumph.
New York's high-octane offense was limited to only Robinson Cano's two-out double in the first inning and Suzuki's single to lead off the third. Cano has hit safely in 31 of his last 35 games. Curtis Granderson assumed the leadoff position for the second straight contest Saturday and fifth time this season.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), YES (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Hisashi Iwakuma (2-2, 4.10 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Freddy Garcia (4-5, 5.10)
Iwakuma recorded his first win in more than six weeks after striking out 13 in a 4-1 triumph over Toronto. The 31-year-old Japan native allowed one run on four hits, but did issue three walks for the fourth time in five outings. Iwakuma fared well versus New York on July 25, allowing one run on six hits in five innings for a no-decision.
Garcia has dropped his last three starts - including a 4-2 decision to Seattle on July 24. The 35-year-old Venezuelan yielded three runs on five hits in 7 1/3 innings to drop to 5-4 in his career against his former team. Garcia has received only two runs of support during his losing skid.
WALK-OFFS
1. Derek Jeter saw his seven-game hitting streak come to an end Saturday afternoon, but fared well versus Iwakuma in his last outing. The future Hall of Famer homered among his three hits.
2. Seattle SS Brendan Ryan exited Saturday's game after being hit on the elbow by a pitch from Hiroki Kuroda. Munenori Kawasaki, who replaced him in the field, will likely draw the start on Sunday.
3. Carp, who collected a pair of hits Saturday, is 13-for-31 in his last nine games. He is 3-for-9 with a triple in his career versus Garcia.