New York Yankees vs Seattle Mariners Results, Stats & Recap

SEATTLE (AP) Anthony Rizzo hit a tiebreaking double in the 10th inning and drove in both runs for New York as the Yankees clinched a playoff spot with a 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night.

Rizzo took the first pitch of the inning from reliever Colin Snyder (3-4) down the right-field line to score automatic runner Jason Domenguez from second. Ian Hamilton held on in the bottom half after a freak baserunning error by Julio Rodriguez.

The postseason berth is the Yankees' 59th in franchise history and their 25th playoff trip in 30 years. New York has made the playoffs six times in Aaron Boone's seven seasons as manager, securing at least one American League wild card.

“We've already been through a lot this year,” Boone said. “We understand this is only a first step – but it is an important step. We're dancing.”

The first AL team to clinch a playoff spot, the Yankees moved five games ahead of second-place Baltimore in the AL East with 10 games to play.

Seattle was five games back of first-place Houston and three behind Minnesota in the AL West for the league's last wild card.

The Yankees managed just two hits against Seattle starter Bryce Miller, but Rizzo gave them an early lead with a single in the second for his first RBI since Sept. 2.

Miller struck out eight over six innings while issuing four walks (one intentional). After a shaky first few innings, he got out of a bases-loaded jam in the third inning and faced the final 10 hitters.

But Seattle's offense failed to push across a run against former Mariners pitcher Nestor Cortes, who allowed four hits and struck out six in six shutout innings.

“Our goal is to win the division,” Cortes said. “I knew how important it was for us to clinch today. We didn't clinch last year, so to have this opportunity to pitch in this game and be able to help guys go out there and throw a win, it was everything for us today.”

Justin Turner tied the game at 1 in the eighth with a homer that gave Clay Holmes his 13th hit of the season, most in the majors. That tied the club records held by Dave Righetti (1987) and Hall of Famer Goose Gossage (1983).

Cal Raleigh singled to lead off the bottom of the 10th, sending the automatic runner Rodriguez from second to third. But the Mariners' star was picked off after scampering into foul territory to dodge a flying bat that slipped out of Randy Arrozarena's grasp on a strikeout, completing a freak double play.

“There's kind of a weird scene where the bat finally comes down and it's a reactive thing,” Seattle manager Dan Wilson said. “It was a great ballgame on all fronts and tough to lose.”

Rodriguez explained that he assumed the play would be declared dead after the bat left Arozarena's hands and he would be allowed to return to third base.

“I moved and went back to the field and I heard (third base coach) Manny (Acta) yell, 'Go back to third.' That's when I got back to third,'” Rodriguez said. “Honestly, at that point I wasn't really thinking about the game, just trying to get away from the bat coming at me.”

Turner then struck out to end it.

Hamilton earned the third save of his career and first of the year. Luke Weaver (6-3) fanned four in 1 2/3 hitless innings for the win.

Mariners pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts, while Yankees pitchers struck out 14 batters.

Coach's room

Mariners shortstop Victor Robles (hand) was out of the lineup after taking a pitch from New York starter Lewis Gill in the first inning of Tuesday's game. Robles exited after innings, and his status was day to day.

Next UP

Yankees RHP Clark Schmidt (5-3, 2.41 ERA) will start Wednesday against Seattle RHP Logan Gilbert (7-11, 3.24).

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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