Since Brian Cashman became the unquestioned guiding force of the Yankees following the death of George Steinbrenner in 2010, opposing the Yankees has been based on 2 principles:
1. Stop them from hitting home runs, and you stop them.
2. If you cheat against them, don't worry, you won't really get punished.
And for the last month, 9-16, including the last 5 in a row, the Yankees struggled to hit home runs, and lost. So the concern was that, starting a 3-game series against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park (formerly Safeco Field), a known pitcher's park, the slide would continue.
Last night, either the slide was stopped, or it got a nice interruption. Josh Donaldson singled home 2 runs in the top of the 1st inning. In the 3rd, Donaldson hit a home run, Gleyber Torres singled, and Andrew Benintendi doubled him home.
The Yankees began the top of the 5th with 3 straight doubles, by Donaldson, Torres and Benintendi. Later in the inning, Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a sacrifice fly that got a run home. In the 9th, Aaron Judge, having gotten a few hits over the last few games but none of them home runs, hit his 44th of the season. Later in the inning, Jose Trevino singled home a run.
That kind of hitting deserves good pitching. Jameson Taillon provided it, going 7 innings, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks, striking out 6. Aroldis Chapman pitched a scoreless 8th. Clay Holmes pitched the 9th, and allowed a run, raising concerns that he might not be the closer we thought he would be when he took over for Chapman.
Nevertheless, the large lead held. Yankees 9, Mariners, 4. WP: Taillon (11-2). No save. LP: Logan Gilbert (10-5).
The series continues tonight. It's a battle of alleged aces, between Gerrit Cole and Luis Castillo.