Lloyd McClendon Argues With 3 Umpires After Being Ejected [VIDEO]
SEATTLE (AP) — Since Mariners catcher Mike Zunino and manger Lloyd McClendon were ejected in the third inning, both were long gone by the time the game got to the late innings.
Perhaps it was better that way.
Closer Fernando Rodney allowed the tying run in the ninth and New York's Garrett Jones hit a three-run home run in 11th as the Yankees beat Seattle 5-3 Tuesday night.
"One thing I shared with my club and I'll share with you . bad times don't last, but good men do," McClendon said. "And I've got good men in the clubhouse and we'll be just fine."
After reliever Tom Wilhelmsen allowed two-out singles to Stephen Drew and Brett Gardner in the 11th, Joe Beimel came in to face Jones, who had been a late-inning replacement. Jones greeted Beimel by drilling a 2-0 fastball over the fence in center to give New York a 5-2 lead.
Justin Wilson (2-0) pitched a clean 10th for the win and then gave way to Andrew Miller, who allowed an RBI single to Robinson Cano in the 11th before striking out Nelson Cruz for his 16th save.
The 11th-inning theatrics weren't the only ones the Yankees needed. Facing Seattle closer Fernando Rodney trailing 2-1 in the ninth, Chase Headley walked and moved to third on a two-out, pinch-hit single by Brian McCann.
Stephen Drew followed with an RBI double to the game.
"Just trying to get a good pitch to hit," said Drew, who entered the game hitting .160. "Not try to do too much. Been in these situations before. (Rodney) made a good pitch, I put a good swing on it.
"It was all around a great team win tonight. It was a lot of fun. Game was going back and forth, it was fun to be a part of."
It was Rodney's second blown save in four appearances and third of the season.
Zunino was tossed in the third inning for showing his displeasure with first base umpire Will Little's ruling that Alex Rodriguez had checked his swing on a full-count pitch. It was the second swing that had been checked on a full count in the inning.
McClendon was also quickly ejected after confronting Little. The Mariners manager made his way from first to third to voice his displeasure with each of the umpires, tossing and kicking his hat along the way.
The late-game heroics by the Yankees and mid-game meltdown from the Mariners overshadowed a nice debut from Mike Montgomery. The Mariners' left-hander allowed one run and four hits. He walked two and struck out four.
Austin Jackson, who reached safely in all six plate appearances, gave Seattle a 2-1 lead in the sixth with an RBI double. The hit chased CC Sabathia, as New York's starter allowed two runs and nine hits with two walks and six strikeouts in 5 2-3 innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mariners: RHP Hisashi Iwakuma, on the 15-day disabled list with an injury to his right lat (upper back), played catch on Tuesday and will complete a bullpen session Thursday. Iwakuma hasn't thrown in a game in more than a month.
Yankees: RHP Ivan Nova tossed three innings during an extended spring training start Tuesday before rain shortened the game. Nova, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, finished his workout with another couple innings out of the rain and New York manager Joe Girardi said he reached about 75 pitches.
MONTGOMERY DAZZLES
Montgomery is the second pitcher in Seattle history to go at least six innings and give up one run or fewer in his major league debut. Blake Beavan also did it in July 2011.
UP NEXT
Mariners: RHP Taijuan Walker looks to improve on one of his best starts of his career, when he struck out eight in eight shutout innings against the Indians on May 29. Walker is 2-5 with a 6.18 ERA in 10 starts this season.
Yankees: RHP Masahiro Tanaka is scheduled to come off the disabled list and start the finale. Tanaka has been sidelined since late April with a mild strain in his right forearm. He is 2-1 with a 3.22 ERA in four starts this season.
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