Yankees Drop Opener to Mariners in 13 innings

Follow Us

New York Yankees 0, Seattle Mariners 1

Pinch-hitter Luis Torrens singled with one out in the 13th inning to score Eugenio Suárez, and the Seattle Mariners defeated the New York Yankees 1-0 on Tuesday in a game dominated by Gerrit Cole and Luis Castillo’s starting pitching.

The two aces were dominant into the late innings before giving way to bullpens that kept the game scoreless late into the night.

The Yankees’ bad baserunning helped, as did the Mariners’ lack of execution, as both teams had chances to score a run early in the extra frames.

It was the first major league game to reach the 13th inning without a score since Tampa Bay’s game against Detroit on Aug. 17, 2019 — before new rules requiring an automatic runner at second base to begin each extra inning were implemented in 2020.

The Mariners finally broke through in the 13th inning. Cal Raleigh singled off Jonathan Loáisiga (1-3) to move Suárez to third. After Sam Haggerty was intentionally walked to load the bases, Torrens lined a 0-2 pitch into right field, sparking a wild, exhausted celebration.

Castillo and Cole were left out of the decision due to a lack of runs on a night when both deserved to win.

Cole allowed four hits and struck out eight batters in seven innings, a marked improvement from his previous outing against the Mariners, when he was battered for six runs in the first inning.

In eight innings, Castillo allowed three hits while striking out seven.

Matt Brash (3-3) earned the victory with two innings of relief work. The bullpen in Seattle combined for five hitless innings and seven strikeouts.

Bad baserunning cost the Yankees several extra-inning chances. In the 10th inning, Andrew Benintendi was caught stealing third with no outs. As Miguel Andjar drifted too far from second, Aaron Hicks lined into a double play to start the 11th.

Brash made a spectacular, blind backhand grab of Isiah Kiner-grounder Falefa’s in the 12th inning and caught Jose Trevino in a rundown between second and third. Kiner-Falefa was thrown out on the play while attempting to advance to second.

Seattle had chances to win it in the 11th and 12th innings before converting thanks to Torrens.

Castillo outdueled Cole by finishing the eighth and pitching himself out of trouble. To end the inning, Castillo got a groundout from Kiner-Falefa with a runner on third.

Castillo was the first pitcher in Seattle this season to throw eight innings. It was his third appearance against the Yankees in the previous month. Castillo has thrown 21 2/3 innings in three appearances, allowing four earned runs and striking out 23 batters.

COMING UP

Nester Cortes (9-3, 2.57 ERA) gave up two runs but only one hit in his previous start against St. Louis. Cortes has three starts this season and has pitched at least five innings while allowing only one hit.

What do you think, leave a comment below?

Follow Us