Hiroki Kuroda helps New York Yankees topple Seattle Mariners 4-1 – MLB Update
New York Yankees snapped their four game losing streak in great style as they toppled the Seattle Mariners 4-1 at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington on Monday, July 23 in the opening game of their three match series of the 2012 Major League Baseball regular
season.
Manager Joe Girardi was extremely happy at the outcome of the game. After the Yankees suffered a humiliating series sweep at the hands of Oakland Athletics, the skipper was expecting his team to bounce back strongly.
"Obviously, it looks different being over here," said Suzuki, who will be playing in Yankees’ colours soon. "I was worried about my first at-bat. I was really relieved with the standing ovation. It was a special day today."
"My 11 1/2 years here is a long time and I was thinking what I would feel like in my first at-bat," he added. "I really didn't think anything. Nothing came to me."
"He looked good," Girardi said. "He hit the ball right on the screws twice. He stole a base, made a good throw to home. Kind of what we expected.”
Mark Teixeira provided New York with a delightful start as he doubled to right in the fourth inning and Alex Rodriguez scored the opening run. Raul Ibanez also made the most of available opportunities as he singled to left in the fourth and Robinson Cano
scored to give Yankees a critical 2-1 lead.
Left-fielder Adam Jones clinched a single to shallow left in the fourth and Alex Rodriguez homered to left-centre in the eighth to extend the lead to 4-1.
For Seattle, Catcher John Jaso singled to right in the third and second Dustin Ackley scored the only run.
Yankees’ starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda put up another masterful performance on Monday evening to play a key role in his team’s victory. Striking-out nine in seven solid innings, he created all sorts of problems for Mariners’ offensive lineup.
Overall, Kuroda gave up just three hits and a run for his tenth win of the season. Relief pitcher Rafael Soriano continued to impress the skipper as he pitched the perfect ninth for his 25th save of the season.
Tags: