Gregorius, Clint Frazier and Gardner led the Yankees to a series win over the Mariners

The Yankees had gone 10 straight series without a victory coming into Seattle. They had eight losses and two ties and their last series win came in Baltimore against the Orioles from June 9 to 11.
Joe Girardi credited the acquisitions that they made in the recent trade with the White Sox and the improved health of the team to their much needed series win.
“I like the moves we made,” Joe Girardi said. “I like that we have guys back physically. I think our bullpen is a lot deeper.”
Brett Gardner’s homer in the first inning was his 17th of his season. That homer tied his career-high, which he had previously set back in 2014. Gardner has been in trade rumors, but has had a productive season is on track to setting career highs in homers, doubles and RBI.
All six of the runs the Yankees scored were driven in by Gardner, Clint Frazier and Didi Gregorius.
In the second and fourth innings, off of Yovani Gallardo, Gregorius smashed two solo homers. This was the first time Gregorius had hit two homers in the same game in his career. Gregorius, who just missed being selected an All-Star in the Final Vote, was 2–5 and in his last six games he is 12–22 (.545) with three homers and four RBI.
“Didi has been big,” Girardi said. “He has had a really good start to the second half, too.”
Six of the team’s 10 hits were extra-base hits. Frazier, who was 1–5, made his one hit really count. His double to left in the bottom of the sixth scored Todd Frazier and Ronald Torreyes to give the Yankees a 6–4 lead. This came after Gardner’s RBI single earlier in the sixth.
Frazier now has a .295 average with three homers, 11 RBI and a .607 slugging percentage in 16 games since being called up. He has been very productive as 11 of his 18 hits have been extra-base hits, which includes two triples, six doubles and his three homers. Joe Girardi has said that he will be playing instead of Jacoby Ellsbury for now.
“He has a pretty good approach,” Girardi said. “He has had some big hits for us. He gets into long at-bats and looks for pitches to hit.”
Rookie Caleb Smith made his first career start and was effective through three innings before losing his effectiveness in the fourth. In the fourth, with the bases loaded and two outs, Smith allowed four runs combined on an infield single and a double. The offense and a shut down bullpen were able to propel the team to the win.
“A couple broken bat jam shots fell in and it went from there,” Smith said. “I cruised through three innings and my defense helped me.” He added that he just lost effectiveness in the fourth inning.
Chad Green had yet another dominant relief appearance for the Yankees. After Smith was taken out of the game with two outs in the fourth, Green pitched 2.1 innings while not giving up a hit and striking out three as he pitched in consecutive games for the first time.
Green was a starting pitcher before this season but he has now found a role that he is very effective in. He has been able to have success this season while repeatedly pitching multiple innings out of the bullpen. In 22 games (40.1 innings) 1.56 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, five holds, 54 strikeouts and has not allowed a run in his last 9.1 innings.
David Robertson retired the side in order in the eighth inning, which is his role with the team. He didn’t have to pull a houdini act like he did many times when he was previously with the Yankees. This was his third game since being traded back to the Yankees, and he rebounded after allowing a run in Saturday’s 5–6 loss.
Closer Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth inning and it wasn’t easy even though he had his 100+ mph velocity, and even hit 103 mph. Nelson Cruz had single to leadoff the inning that ricocheted off Chapman. However, pinch hitter Taylor Motter was easily picked off for the first out. Kyle Seager double to deep center off of Chapman, which made the pick off even more important.
Chapman recorded two 102+ mph fastballs as he struck out former Yankee minor leaguer Ben Gamel to end the game.
The Yankees are now five games above .500 and are somewhat fortunate to be only 2.5 games behind the Red Sox for first place in the AL East after going 10-22 going into this series. They now have a one-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays and the surging Kansas City Royals for the first wild card spot. The Yankees will play again on Tuesday when they begin a nine-game homestand, which will be New Jersey native Todd Frazier’s first home game as a Yankee.

