Unlikely Heroes Contribute to Win in Seattle

Stephen Drew takes a swing. (Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports)

The New York Yankees season thus far has been nothing short of a roller coaster. They start off terrible, then they are great. They are really bad, then they take three of four from the best team in the American League, followed by losing three of four to the last place Oakland A’s.

The Yankees route arguably the American League’s best pitcher in Felix Hernandez on Monday night, and then struggle against Mike Montgomery, who made his major league debut on Tuesday night. The Yankees go into the ninth trailing 2-1 with two outs and runners on the corners. Arguably the Yankees worst hitter, Stephen Drew gets down in the count 1-2 and then delivers a game tying double down the left field line to force extra innings.

Then watch as part time utility man Garrett Jones crushes his second homer as Yankee, this one a three run shot to give the Yankees a 5-3 win in 11 innings.

Yankees starter C.C. Sabathia lasted just five and two thirds innings and surrendered nine hits. He was able to limit the damage getting out of key jams keeping the Yankees in the game. Andrew Miller also picked up his 16^th save of the season and the Yankees had a chance to breath.

The Yankees’ second straight victory in Seattle puts them in position for a sweep of the slumping Mariners Wednesday when Masahiro Tanaka steps off the disabled list to start for the first time since April 23. It also allowed the Yankees to stay one game ahead of the second-place Rays in the AL East. A sweep would send the Yankees home with a 4-3 West Coast trip record.