McMahon & Grisham Go Boom: Yankees Flip Switch, Mariners Keep Falling

The New York Yankees are making a habit of waiting until the last possible second to remind everyone they're legit. On Tuesday night, it was the seventh inning — and it was beautiful chaos.

Ryan McMahon and Trent Grisham each delivered two-run singles in a four-run seventh, dragging the Yankees to a 4-1 win over a Mariners team that looks absolutely lost in the Pacific Northwest haze. The win keeps New York on top of the AL wild-card race.

The Seventh-Inning Heist

Down 1-0 and staring at Bryan Woo in total control, the Yankees finally cracked Seattle's bullpen wide open. Luis García Jr. doubled for the second time of the night, Jazz Chisholm Jr. moved him over with a single, and rookie Spencer Jones worked a one-out walk. Then McMahon stepped in and ripped a bases-loaded single off Michael Rucker to flip the game. Grisham wasn't done — he added a two-run single off Eduard Bazardo, and just like that, the Stadium was bouncing.

That's the kind of inning that changes seasons. Or, in Seattle's case, ends them.

Pitching Duel Turned Nightmare

Before the late explosion, this was a pitcher's battle. Woo spun five scoreless innings for the M's — his second straight scoreless start — but the bullpen couldn't hold the line. Ryan Weathers was arguably sharper: the lefty extended his career-best scoreless streak to 23 innings before Randy Arozarena — the ultimate Yankees villain — parked one to the short porch in right in the sixth.

Weathers finished with two hits and three walks over 5 2/3 innings, keeping the Yankees within striking distance. The bullpen slammed the door: Tim Hill got the win, Brent Headrick was nasty in the eighth, and David Bednar locked down save No. 27.

Mariners Are in a Freefall

Seattle has now lost five straight and 14 of 19, dropping a season-worst eight games under .500. They've scored five runs in the losing streak and nine in the last seven games. That's not a slump. That's a funeral procession.

One bright-ish note: Jazz Chisholm Jr. shook off a scary moment in the ninth after trying to field an infield single, but stayed in and made a slick play. Tough kid.

Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor sat out with a sore right wrist.

Up Next

The Yankees look to keep rolling Wednesday night with Will Warren on the mound, while Seattle sends Bryce Miller to try to stop the bleeding. Good luck with that.