Game 137 - New York Yankees at Seattle Mariners

June 1 at Safeco Field in Seattle, WA
YES

Over the last week and a half, the Yankees have been a difficult team to figure out. They allowed 30 runs in being swept in three games at home by Texas, then swept a three-game series from AL Central-leading Kansas City. Last weekend, New York lost 3-of-4 to Oakland, which came into the series with the AL's worst record.

So, naturally the visitors scored seven runs against Felix Hernandez on Monday and didn't let the right-hander get out of the fifth in a 7-2 victory.

Hernandez, who came into the night with a 1.91 ERA, looked like he was going to cruise to a complete game, shut out on about 80 pitches when he set down the first nine batters he faced on just 21 pitches. But something changed in the fourth. I don't know if it was his footing - he had to knock the dirt from his cleats on a couple of occasions, (apparently the roof was partially open even though it's SEATTLE and the Mariners' roof is retractable) and his control just evaporated.

After consecutive singles by Brett Gardner and Chase Headley opened the inning, Hernandez threw a wild pitch (catcher Mike Zunino probably should've blocked the breaking ball as the pitch went right through his legs), scoring Gardner for a 1-0 lead. Two of the three walks in the inning were followed by Brian McCann's bases loaded double play that scored Headley and the Yankees led 2-0.

The Yankees opened things up in the fifth. Hernandez issued a lead off walk to Stephen Drew, which under the most-recent collective barganing agreement is a $75 fine, and five batters later Mark Teixeira launched a grand slam to make it 7-0. It was the sixth career home run for Teixeira against Hernandez, whose seven earned runs were the most he's allowed in a game since Texas got him for eight in August, 2013.

Michael Pineda was excellent for six innings, got into some trouble and didn't get an out in the seventh, but ultimately allowed just two earned and struck out nine in his first start at Safeco since being traded to New York before the 2012 season.