Yankees—Mariners: Pettitte Sinks Seattle For Seventh Straight Win

The Yankees haven't trailed in a ballgame since the sixth inning of last Wednesday's contest against the Braves.  That's a span of 58 innings.

Andy Pettitte made sure that streak would continue until at least Thursday.

The lefty gave up just two runs on six hits and one walk through seven innings to earn his team-leading eighth victory of the season, as the Yanks beat Seattle 4-2 for their seventh consecutive win.

And of course Pettitte got the decision Wednesday night.  He's now pitched to a decision in all 21 of his career starts against the Mariners (10-11). 

What's somewhat surprising is that the decision was a "W" because the Seattle roster entered the game with a .339 average against Pettitte.  But Andy threw first pitch strikes to 17 of the 26 batters he faced and was able to dictate the at bats from there.

Here are the grades from New York's win at the Stadium:

Joe Girardi, Manager: (A-) I questioned taking out Pettitte to start the eighth when he retired the side in the seventh, had only thrown 98 pitches and had three guys coming up that were a combined 0-8 against him.

I also didn't understand bringing in Alfredo Aceves instead of Phil Hughes, but I guess it made sense because Girardi wanted to bring in Phil Coke to face the two lefties, Ichiro Suzuki and Russell Branyan.  But if he wanted a lefty to face those guys, why not just leave in Pettitte, who was cruising?

In the end, it worked out and at least he didn't bring in Brian Bruney.

Derek Jeter, SS: (A-) The captain was 1-for-3 and was hit by a pitch on the right foot.  He stayed in the game and hopefully won't suffer any lingering effects on Thursday.  I was surprised to learn that the HBP was only the third time he's been hit this year.

Johnny Damon, LF: (A) Damon homered off of Jarrod Washburn in the third to get the scoring started.  He also walked and struck out.

Mark Teixeira, 1B: (A) Tex was 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Alex Rodriguez, DH: (A+) A-Rod's two-run blast in the sixth was his fourth in seven games and the 566th of his career.  He has really turned things around since those couple of days off in Florida two weekends ago, and I'm happy Girardi isn't taking his hot bat out of the lineup to get him some more rest.

Jorge Posada, C: (D) Posada was moved up a spot in the lineup against the lefty but the change didn't do him any favors as he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.  I'll give him some credit, though, for catching a good game and picking up one of the easiest caught stealings of his career when he gunned down Franklin Gutierrez after the base runner lost track of the count.

Robinson Cano, 2B: (A-) Cano went 1-for-3 and saw only four pitches, but I can't blame him because he's a lifetime .365 hitter when making contact with the first pitch.

Nick Swisher, RF: (A-) Swisher singled in three at bats.

Melky Cabrera, CF-RF: (A) I was surprised Cabrera got the start being that he was 0-for-13 against Washburn, but the switch hitter broke out of that slump in grand fashion with a towering solo homer over the left field foul pole that was upheld on review.

I don't understand why all four umpires need to descend into the bowels of a stadium to review a controversial home run call.  I'm all for instant replay, but can't there be a fifth umpire up in the press box who can take a look at the play from there like in college football.  It would save us all a lot of time.

Cody Ransom, 3B: (F) Ransom got the start at third and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. 

I get the need to give A-Rod a half-day off once in a while, but I thought it was peculiar to do it with Pettitte, a ground ball pitcher, on the mound.  It almost cost the Yankees in the second inning when Gutierrez reached on a chopper to third that should've been fielded by Ransom.  Luckily, Pettitte was able to escape the two-on, nobody out jam.

Brett Gardner, CF: (INC) I didn't even realize Gardner came in as a defensive replacement in the ninth until I just read the box score.

Andy Pettitte, SP: (A) Pettitte entered the game with a 5.77 ERA at home, but he kept the ball down and struck out five to improve to 8-3 on the year.

Alfredo Aceves, RP: (A) Aceves retired the only batter he faced in the eighth and has now has pitched seven straight scoreless innings.

Phil Coke, RP: (A) Coke did his job and retired both lefties he faced.  Another scoreless eighth without Joba Chamberlain.

Mariano Rivera, RP: (A) Mo pitched a perfect ninth to pick up save No. 501.

Yankees Overall Grade: (A) It'll be about 190 straight hours without trailing in a game by the time CC Sabathia throws the first pitch Thursday night.

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