SEATTLE — Giancarlo Stanton clubbed a three-run homer off the railing of the second deck in the first inning, Luke Voit had a career-high five hits and three RBIs, and the New York Yankees thumped the Seattle Mariners 12-1 on Tuesday night.
The Yankees seemed to release nearly a week worth of frustration with an early offensive outburst against the Mariners and one-time New York prospect Justus Sheffield.
New York had been a reeling for more than a week, a stretch that included being swept in Boston and last Wednesday’s loss to the Los Angeles Angels where the Yankees blew an 8-4 lead in the ninth inning. Getting out of the Big Apple seemed to help, as did the continued problems for Sheffield.
DJ LeMahieu singled in each of the first three innings, becoming the first New York player to have three hits in the first three innings since Aaron Judge in April 2018. Stanton’s homer was his 15th of the season and left the bat at nearly 116 mph.
Voit’s had a two-run single on an 0-2 pitch and was the final batter Sheffield faced. Judge added an RBI double and Voit had an infield single in the fifth to score another run. Rougned Odor hit a three-run homer in the eighth, his ninth of the season.
Voit capped his night with a double in the eighth and single in the ninth.
The 12 runs and 18 hits were season highs for the Yankees.
The big offensive outburst made for an easy night for New York starter Jameson Taillon. Pitching with a lead from the outset, Taillon (4-4) cruised through the Mariners lineup allowing four hits and one run. He matched his season-high with nine strikeouts and completed seven innings for the first time since April 3, 2019 when pitching for Pittsburgh.
Taillon was nearly through six shutout innings, but Ty France’s two-out flare into shallow left field dropped despite Miguel Andújar’s diving attempt and scored J.P. Crawford.
Sheffield (5-8) may have lost his spot in Seattle’s rotation, losing his fourth straight decision after a month of struggles. Sheffield failed to make it through the second inning for the first time in his career and has not finished five innings in four of his past five starts.
Sheffield has allowed 32 hits and 23 earned runs over 19 innings in his past five starts.
The Yankees improved to 22-5 in Seattle since 2012 and with a win either Wednesday night or Thursday would win their 10th consecutive series against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
Seattle was the final American League team the Yankees had yet to face this season.
