Tex and CC Lead Yanks Past Mariners

(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
NY Yankees	1	0	0	1	4	1	0	1	2		10	18	1
Seattle	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0		1	7	0

WP: CC Sabathia (18-7)
LP: Doug Fister (2-3)

After four relatively quiet offensive games Yankees fans were starting to sweat a bit. The Yankees quieted any doubts tonight, as they pounded out 10 runs on 18 hits on their way to their 95th victory of the season. They also increased their lead to 6.5 over the Angels, who lost to Texas, for best record in baseball.

Mark Teixeira led the way, going 4-for-5 with two homers, a triple, five RBI, and two runs scored. He had a chance for the cycle when he led off the top of the ninth, but instead he smashed his second homer of the night. It was his 37th round-tripper of the season and his league best 118th RBI. He truly looked disappointed as he circled the bases.

Robinson Cano also had a big night offensively. He also picked up four hits, along with three doubles and two runs scored. His average is up to .323, and he now has 193 hits on the year, a new career-high.

Johnny Damon had three hits including a double, an RBI, and two runs scored. Hideki Matsui launched his 26th homer of the season to set a Yankees record for homers by a designated hitter. And Francisco Cervelli chipped in with two hits and an RBI.

It was a great night for the offense, but the way CC Sabathia pitched it wasn't even necessary. He was dominating, holding the Mariners to just one unearned run on four hits and two walks, while striking out eight. He had everything working and threw 69 of his 105 pitches for strikes. Since August this guy has been one of the best pitchers in baseball. Tonight was the 23rd time this season that CC has lasted at least 7 innings in a ballgame.

The lone Mariner run came in the bottom of the fifth on an Alex Rodriguez throwing error.

We all got quite a scare earlier in the frame, when a Franklin Gutierrez line drive smashed off CC's chest. He appeared a bit shaken up, but stayed in the game and didn't look like anything was wrong the rest of the night. We're very lucky that ball avoided his head, neck or right hand, because it was close to all three.

CC now leads the American League with 18 wins, and lowered his ERA to 3.31. He also took over the league lead in innings pitched.

Brian Bruney, wearing his new no. 99, came into the game in the eighth and was shaky once again. He allowed two hits in the inning, but was able to get out of it without allowing a run.

Joe Girardi called on Jonathan Albaladejo for the ninth. He too got himself into trouble allowing a walk and a hit, but like Bruney was able to get out of it unscathed.

The Yanks go for a series win tomorrow afternoon at 4:10 p.m. with Joba Chamberlain on the mound. He'll be looking to build off his past two successful outings as his builds up his innings for October. Ian Snell will start for the Mariners.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Jeter, SS	4	1	1	0	1	1	1	.329
Pena, R, SS	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.284
Damon, LF	4	2	3	1	0	0	0	.290
a-Duncan, S, PH	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	.167
Hairston, J, 3B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.252
Teixeira, 1B	5	2	4	5	0	0	1	.289
Bruney, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Albaladejo, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Rodriguez, A, 3B	3	0	0	0	1	0	3	.285
Gardner, CF	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	.283
Matsui, H, DH	3	1	1	1	1	2	2	.280
b-Miranda, PH-DH-1B	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1.000
Swisher, RF	4	0	0	0	0	0	3	.254
c-Guzman, F, PH-LF	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	.000
Cano, 2B	5	2	4	0	0	0	0	.323
Cabrera, Me, CF-LF-RF	5	0	1	1	0	1	4	.275
Cervelli, C	4	1	2	1	0	0	2	.279
Totals	40	10	18	10	3	5	18
a-Struck out for Damon in the 8th. b-Singled for Matsui, H in the 9th. c-Hit a sacrifice fly for Swisher in the 9th.
BATTING 2B: Cano 3 (45, Fister, Vargas, J, Silva, C), Damon (34, Fister). 3B: Teixeira (3, Fister). HR: Matsui, H (26, 4th inning off Fister, 0 on, 0 out), Teixeira 2 (37, 5th inning off Fister, 2 on, 0 out; 9th inning off French, 0 on, 0 out). TB: Jeter; Damon 4; Teixeira 12; Gardner; Matsui, H 4; Miranda; Cano 7; Cabrera, Me; Cervelli 2. RBI: Teixeira 5 (118), Matsui, H (86), Damon (77), Cervelli (11), Cabrera, Me (64), Guzman, F (1). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Swisher; Jeter; Duncan, S. SF: Guzman, F. GIDP: Swisher; Cabrera, Me. Team RISP: 4-for-14. Team LOB: 7. FIELDING E: Rodriguez, A (9, throw).

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Sabathia (W, 18-7)	7.0	4	1	0	2	8	0	3.31
Bruney	1.0	2	0	0	0	2	0	4.24
Albaladejo	1.0	1	0	0	1	0	0	4.60

Pitches-strikes: Sabathia 105-69, Bruney 18-11, Albaladejo 21-12.

MARINERS STATS

CO-PLAYERS OF THE GAME: CC Sabathia (W, 7 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K) & Mark Teixeria (4-for-5, 2 HR, 3B, 5 RBI, 2 R)

HONORABLE MENTION: Robinson Cano (4-for-5, 3 2B, 2 R)

Tomorrow's Game

Yankees @ Mariners
Game Time: 4:10 p.m. TV/Radio: YES, WCBS
RHP Joba Chamberlain (8-5, 4.39) vs. RHP Ian Snell (4-2, 4.86)