Yankees wallop Mariners as Aaron Judge, bats stay red-hot

Yankees wallop Mariners as Aaron Judge, bats stay red-hot

SEATTLE — Neither a cross-country trip nor a tough starting pitcher has done much to cool off the Yankees’ bats.

And the contributions are widespread enough that they can still cruise even when Aaron Judge only hits one home run.

The Yankees continued to mash on Tuesday, with a four-hit, four-RBI night from Isiah Kiner-Falefa leading the way to a fourth straight win, 10-2, over the Mariners at T-Mobile Park.

Anthony Volpe and Greg Allen also joined Judge by going deep as the Yankees (34-23) hung 10 runs on their opponent for a third straight game.

Over those three games — one in The Bronx on Sunday and the last two in the Pacific Northwest — the Yankees have piled up 28 runs on 42 hits.

They have come in three games started by tough competition in Yu Darvish (who entered with a 3.67 ERA), Bryce Miller (1.15) and Logan Gilbert (3.60).

Coming off a game in which they pounded out a season-high 18 hits, the Yankees saved 12 more for Tuesday.


Anthony Volpe celebrates after belting a three-run homer in the third inning of the Yankees' 10-2 win over the Mariners.
Anthony Volpe celebrates after belting a three-run homer in the third inning of the Yankees’ 10-2 win over the Mariners.Getty Images

The latest outburst included a 4-for-5 effort from the red-hot Kiner-Falefa, a three-run home run from the slumping Volpe and even Allen’s first home run as a Yankee while starting in center field on the day Harrison Bader landed on the injured list.

Then, just for good measure, Judge added yet another homer in the seventh inning, going deep for the 12th time in his last 16 games.

The Yankees have hit 53 home runs in 28 games this month, tying a franchise record for the month of May.


Isiah Kiner-Falefa, clapping after hitting a two-run double, had four hits and four RBIs in the Yankees' win.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, clapping after hitting a two-run double, had four hits and four RBIs in the Yankees’ win.AP

It was more than enough offensive support for Nestor Cortes, despite the left-hander again being plagued by late-outing issues, though he limited the damage this time. Cortes carried a shutout into the fifth inning before giving up a pair of runs, but left runners on first and second by striking out Eugenio Suarez on his 101st and final pitch of the night to escape the jam.

The Yankees jumped out in front immediately with three runs in the first inning. Gleyber Torres had his third straight multi-hit game, extending his hitting streak to 10 games with a leadoff single. Judge then walked and DJ LeMahieu reached on a one-out error to load the bases for Kiner-Falefa, who lined a two-run single to center field.

Kiner-Falefa is batting 13-for-34 (.382) with 12 RBIs over his last 11 games, warranting more regular playing time as he has started to find a groove in his super-utility role.


Nestor Cortes, who allowed two runs in five innings, picked up the win.
Nestor Cortes, who allowed two runs in five innings, picked up the win.AP

Jake Bauers added a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0 in a first inning in which the Yankees forced Gilbert to throw 38 pitches.

Volpe entered his at-bat in the third inning in a 5-for-41 slump with 17 strikeouts, including one that left a runner on third base to end the first inning. But he came up with two runners on and clobbered a low slider from Gilbert for a three-run homer that traveled 413 feet to put the Yankees ahead 6-0.

Allen, known more for his speed and defense, delivered his solo shot in the fourth inning off Gilbert, pulling a fly ball down the right-field line to make it a 7-0 lead. It marked his 11th career home run in his 290th major league game.


Greg Allen (left) celebrates with Aaron Judge after belting a solo homer in the Yankees' win. Judge also belted a solo shot later in the game.
Greg Allen (left) celebrates with Aaron Judge after belting a solo homer in the Yankees’ win. Judge also belted a solo shot later in the game.AP

After the Mariners (28-26) got two runs back off Cortes in the bottom of the fifth, Michael King replaced him to begin the sixth. It turned into a whacky inning, with the mid-at-bat ejection of Tom Murphy (for arguing a check-swing call) and manager Scott Servais, and then Judge allowing a catchable fly ball to drop a few feet away from him.

But Judge answered back in the seventh, leading off with a solo shot against reliever Darren McCaughan, a night after clubbing two homers.

Kiner-Falefa then capped off his strong night with another two-run single in the ninth inning.