SEATTLE (AP) — Aaron Judge hit his 44th homer, Josh Donaldson also went deep and drove in three runs, and the New York Yankees snapped a five-game losing streak by beating the Seattle Mariners 9-4 on Monday night.
Donaldson doubled twice and Andrew Benintendi also had two doubles and three RBIs as the Yankees hammered Seattle pitching. But it wasn’t a perfect night — Matt Carpenter broke his left foot when he fouled off a pitch in the first inning.
Donaldson and Benintendi got it started as New York knocked around starter Logan Gilbert for seven earned runs and 10 hits — six for extra bases. That was plenty for Jameson Taillon (11-2), who scattered three hits over seven innings.
New York manager Aaron Boone held a team meeting ahead of the series opener in Seattle after the Yankees were swept in St. Louis last weekend. His message was mostly a reminder the Bronx Bombers are arguably the most talented team in the American League and following the trade deadline have the pieces to make this a special season.
Message received.
Donaldson had a two-run single in his first at-bat, launched his 11th home run with two outs in the third and hit the first of three consecutive doubles in the fifth that ended Gilbert’s night.
Benintendi’s two-out double in the third inning scored Gleyber Torres, and his double over the head of left fielder Jesse Winker in the fifth scored two and was the final batter for Gilbert.
Seattle’s young right-hander gave up a season high in runs and hits. It was the first time in 23 starts this season that Gilbert (10-5) failed to pitch at least five innings.
Taillon gave up solo home runs to Mitch Haniger in the first and Cal Raleigh in the seventh, but otherwise avoided major damage. J.P. Crawford worked an 11-pitch, bases-loaded walk in the fourth to plate a run, and Raleigh followed with a long fly ball that had home run distance but was pulled slightly foul.
Otherwise, Taillon cruised. He walked three and struck out six in winning his first start since beating Boston on July 16.
Judge connected in the ninth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Yankees: 1B Anthony Rizzo was out of the lineup for the fourth straight game due to an ongoing back issue. Boone said the hope is Rizzo will have improved enough to return to the lineup Tuesday. Rizzo missed time in July with the same lower-back issue.
Mariners: Winker left in the fifth due to back spasms. He was replaced by Jake Lamb. … LHP Ryan Borucki exited in the ninth in the middle of an at-bat with an apparent injury after throwing a pitch to Benintendi. … Manager Scott Servais said CF Julio Rodriguez was going to take additional swings before Monday’s game to get a gauge on where he’s at with his wrist injury. Rodriguez could get activated Wednesday or Seattle could use Thursday’s off day and bring him back Friday. … INF/OF Dylan Moore (back spasms) is expected to come off the injured list Wednesday. … LHP Matthew Boyd (elbow) threw live batting practice as he continues his recovery from elbow surgery last September. Boyd’s next step is expected to be a rehab assignment.
UP NEXT
Yankees: RHP Gerrit Cole (9-4, 3.56 ERA) looks to rebound from his last start in which he allowed six runs in the first inning against Seattle. Cole is 6-3 with a 2.48 ERA in 10 career starts against the Mariners.
Mariners: RHP Luis Castillo (5-4, 2.95) makes his first start at home since being acquired from Cincinnati. Castillo allowed three runs and struck out eight over 6 2/3 innings last week at Yankee Stadium in his first start for Seattle.
