New York @ Seattle preview
T-Mobile Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 27, 2011 ) Seattle 9, NY Yankees 2
THE STORY: As the New York Yankees build their lead in the American League East, Mariano Rivera moves closer to the all-time saves record. Rivera notched his 599th career save Sunday as New York salvaged the finale of its three-game series in Los Angeles and increased its division lead over the Boston Red Sox to 3 1/2 games. Rivera is two saves away from sharing the all-time saves lead with Trevor Hoffman. The Yankees, who snapped their four-game overall losing streak Sunday, continue their 10-game road trip Monday against the Seattle Mariners. Seattle has lost eight of its last 11 contests.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, YES Network (New York), Root Sports (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Phil Hughes (4-5, 6.41 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (14-11, 3.15 ERA).
Hughes rebounded from a pair of rough starts Tuesday when he allowed two runs over six innings in a no-decision against the Baltimore Orioles. The 25-year-old had yielded two runs or less in five consecutive outings before surrendering six in back-to-back starts versus the Oakland Athletics and Boston. Hughes was the hard-luck loser against Seattle on July 27 as he allowed only two runs in six innings.
Hernandez extended his personal winning streak to three Tuesday as he gave up an unearned run over eight innings at Los Angeles. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner has allowed more than three runs just once in his last eight starts. Hernandez is 6-3 in 10 career outings against New York but 5-0 with a 1.29 ERA since the start of the 2009 season.
ABOUT THE MARINERS (61-85): Righthander Steve Delabar made his major-league debut against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning. Delabar is the 12th Mariner to have his first experience in the majors this season. Seattle struck out 12 times Sunday, bringing its final total for the four-game series to 51. Ichiro Suzuki went 1-for-4 on Sunday, bringing his career hits total to 2,412. He is three hits away from tying Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle for 111th place on the all-time list.
ABOUT THE YANKEES (88-57): Catching prospect Jesus Montero made his first major-league start behind the plate Sunday and went 0-for-3 with a walk and three strikeouts. The 21-year-old had gone 8-for-23 (.348) with three home runs and six RBIs in seven games as a designated hitter prior to his catching debut. Austin Romine, who joined the team midway through the game, got his first taste of the majors when he replaced Montero in the seventh inning. New York was without third baseman Alex Rodriguez (thumb), right fielder Nick Swisher (elbow) and catchers Francisco Cervelli (head) and Russell Martin(thumb). Swisher has just nine hits in 39 career at-bats against Hernandez, but four of them are home runs. Mark Teixeira also has hit four blasts off Hernandez.
FINAL PITCH: Rivera's save Sunday gave him at least 40 for the eighth time in his career and second in six seasons.