Mark Teixeira hit his ninth career grand slam off Seattle ace Felix Hernandez in the fifth inning, and Michael Pineda allowed two runs pitching into the seventh in the Yankees’ 7-2 win over the Mariners on Monday night.
The anticipated matchup between two of the top right-handers in the American League met expectations for three innings before Hernandez (8-2) fell apart in stunning fashion.
The Yankees took advantage of five walks and a wild pitch that allowed a run to score as the AL wins leader lost his rhythm following a brief rain shower that dampened Safeco Field before the retractable roof could close.
With Hernandez struggling, Teixeira didn’t miss his chance to blow the game open. With one out in the fifth, Hernandez fell behind 2-0 and grooved a fastball to Teixeira, who hit his 15th homer of the season and sixth career long ball off Hernandez.
It was the first grand slam for Teixeira since June 3, 2013, against Cleveland and the third of the season for the Yankees.
While Hernandez faltered, Pineda (7-2) was outstanding pitching in Seattle for the first time since being traded by the Mariners after the 2011 season, when he was an All-Star. Pineda didn’t allow a runner to reach second base until Seth Smith’s triple in the seventh that scored Kyle Seager from first.
Pineda won his second straight decision and struck out nine, matching his second-highest total this season.
Hernandez was the star for the first three innings when “King Felix” lived up to his moniker. Hernandez rolled through the Yankees’ lineup the first time, needing just 21 pitches — 18 strikes — and recording four strikeouts to set down the first nine batters in order.
But it all fell apart for Seattle’s ace starting in the fourth.
Hernandez struggled with his footing on the wet mound, and his spikes were getting clogged with dirt. A burst of rain wet the dirt in the second and third innings before the retractable roof closed.
After Brett Gardner led off the fourth with New York’s first hit, Hernandez continually looked at his feet, kicked around the dirt and tried to dig mud out of his spikes.
The seven earned runs were his most since August 2013 against Texas. Hernandez had allowed just six earned runs total in his previous five starts versus the Yankees.
Yankees left-hander Chris Capuano will go to the bullpen when Masahiro Tanaka rejoins the New York rotation on Wednesday. Manager Joe Girardi will keep Adam Warren in the rotation.
Mariners right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma had another throwing session as he continues to recover from a muscle strain in his back and side. Iwakuma is scheduled to throw a bullpen on Thursday.
NEW YORK SEATTLE
ab r h bi ab r h bi
Gardnr cf 4 2 1 0 Morrsn 1b 4 0 1 0
Headly 3b 4 1 1 1 Cano 2b 4 0 0 0
ARdrgz dh 3 1 1 0 N.Cruz rf 4 0 1 0
Teixeir 1b 3 1 1 4 Seager 3b 4 1 2 0
BMcCn c 4 0 0 0 S.Smith dh 3 1 1 1
Beltran rf 3 0 1 0 Ruggin ph 1 0 1 0
CYoung rf 0 0 0 0 AJcksn cf 4 0 2 1
Gregrs ss 4 0 0 0 BMiller ss 1 0 0 0
Drew 2b 3 1 1 0 Blmqst ph 1 0 0 0
RFlors lf 4 1 1 0 Zunino c 4 0 0 0
Ackley lf 2 0 0 0
Weeks ph-lf 1 0 0 0
Totals 32 7 7 5 Totals 33 2 8 2
New York 000 250 000—7
Seattle 000 000 200—2
E—Gregorius (7). DP—New York 2, Seattle 1. LOB—New York 4, Seattle 6. 2B—Beltran (13), A.Jackson (3). 3B—S.Smith (3). HR—Teixeira (15). CS—A.Jackson (5). SF—Headley.
IP H R ER BB SO
New York
Pineda W,7-2 6 7 2 2 2 9
J.Wilson 1 0 0 0 0 1
Betances 1 0 0 0 0 3
Shreve 1 1 0 0 0 0
Seattle
F.Herndz L,8-2 4 2-3 6 7 7 5 4
Guaipe 2 1-3 0 0 0 0 2
Leone 2 1 0 0 0 2
Pineda pitched to 4 batters in the 7th.
WP—Betances, F.Hernandez.
Umpires—Home, Tony Randazzo; First, Mike DiMuro; Second, Will Little; Third, Phil Cuzzi.
T—2:55. A—26,082 (47,574).
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