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Sweepless in Seattle: Walkoff lifts M's over Yankees in 12th

Sep 15, 2011 - 6:47 AM Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Luis Rodriguez's homer in the bottom of the 12th inning lifted the Mariners to a 2-1 victory over the Yankees and prevented New York from completing a three-game sweep.

Rodriguez led off the inning and took two balls and a strike from Cory Wade (5-1). The fourth pitch of the at-bat was an offspeed pitch over the plate, and Rodriguez hammered it deep over the right field wall to end the game.

"It's rough," Wade said. "Everybody contributed and did what they needed to do and it came down to me, and I made a mistake ... He did just what he's supposed to do with that pitch. It's a hanging changeup and he hit it out."

Rodriguez finished 3-for-5 with two doubles for Seattle, which snapped a four- game slide. Mariners manager Eric Wedge said Rodriguez is a player "you want up there."

"He has the right heartbeat up there, wants to be up there in those situations," Wedge said. "He's confident."

Nick Swisher homered for the Yankees, who remained four games ahead of Boston for the AL East lead. The Red Sox lost to Toronto earlier Wednesday.

New York starter Ivan Nova, unbeaten in his last 11 decisions, pitched well, giving up only one run in 7 1/3 innings. But the Yankees' offense managed just four hits and two walks, limiting their scoring chances.

They did have an opportunity in the ninth, when Curtis Granderson hit a pitch from Brandon League deep to right field.

But it wasn't quite deep enough to be a homer, and Ichiro Suzuki chased it down to make the catch by the wall. After Robinson Cano doubled later in the inning, League intentionally walked Swisher to get to Jesus Montero. He fanned the rookie to end the threat.

As the inning progressed, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera started to loosen up in the bullpen. Had New York scored, it would have set Rivera up with a chance to record his 601st career save, tying Trevor Hoffman's all-time mark.

But after they failed to score in the ninth, the Yankees didn't get another good chance.

Tom Wilhelmsen set them down in order in the 10th and 11th, ending his outing with a long fly out by Mark Teixeira, who crushed the ball to deep center field. But Michael Saunders was there to make the catch, and Steve Delabar (1-0) worked a scoreless 12th.

The shutout innings by the Mariners' bullpen followed a strong start by Jason Vargas, whose only run allowed came in the seventh.

He dealt Swisher an 0-1 fastball on the inside part of the plate and slightly up, and Swisher got around on the pitch, sending it over the left field wall.

But he allowed only two other hits and a walk in 6 2/3 innings, and fanned six.

Nova's lack of control put Seattle on the board in the fourth inning, which he began by walking Kyle Seager. While Seager was caught stealing for the second out, Nova then walked Mike Carp, gave up a single to Adam Kennedy and threw a wild pitch to allow a run to score.

However, Nova didn't give up another run. He induced inning-ending double play grounders in the second and third, and set down the side in order in the first, sixth and seventh.

The Mariners had a chance to grab the lead in the eighth inning, which Rodriguez began with a double. He moved to third on a bunt and, after Suzuki was intentionally walked, David Robertson relieved Nova.

He got Seager to fly out, but not deep enough for Rodriguez to score, and struck out Dustin Ackley to end the inning.

Game Notes

Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter went 1-for-5, extending his hitting streak to 13 games and picking up his 150th hit of the season. He has totaled 150 hits in 16 consecutive seasons, the longest streak in franchise history. The only other players in major league history with a streak of that length are Hank Aaron (17 seasons) and Pete Rose (16)...Delabar made his second career appearance and picked up his first major league win.