NEW YORK -- The first-place Yankees started the second half in style thanks to none other than Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod's seventh-inning solo shot gave the Yankees the lead, 4-3, which was ultimately the final score.
A-Rod's world: Rodriguez nailed his 19th homer of the year on an 86-mph pitch from lefty Joe Beimel. The 19 homers are the most A-Rod has had in a season since 2010, when he finished with 30. It was the ninth time A-Rod has given the Yankees the lead, the most on the club.
Tanaka's tale: Masahiro Tanaka was solid, but not spectacular, which is maybe what should be expected from him. Tanaka went seven innings, allowing three runs on five hits. He struck out seven and walked two.
The Yankees handed Tanaka the lead two times and he quickly gave them back. Both times, Kyle Seager did in Tanaka. In the second, Seager hit a solo shot to tie it. In the fifth, he nailed a two-run homer to give the Mariners the lead. Tanaka, though, earned the win. He is 6-3 with a 3.65 ERA.
Penmanship:After A-Rod's homer, Joe Girardi gave the ball to All-Star Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller. Miller earned his 19th save when he struck out pinch-hitter Jesus Montero, the former Yankee, on three pitches.
Referendum: In his Yankee Stadium debut, Rob Refsnyder went 0-for-2. He was not smooth in the field, but he did not make any errors.
Young man's game: Chris Young has been a great signing for the Yankees. Young, who is making $2.5 million, hit the Yankees' first second-half homer. The solo shot, in the second, was his 11th of the season.
After the Mariners tied the game, Young smacked a double high off the left-field wall to lead off the fourth. He would score on Chase Headley's RBI single that bounced up the middle.
Big Mac: After Rodriguez led off the fifth with a hard single, Brian McCann tied the game with an RBI single. The Yankees had men on the corners and none on, but could not score. The inning ended on Headley's double play.
On deck: The Yankees and Mariners play at 1 p.m. on Saturday with ex-Mariner Michael Pineda (9-5, 3.64) facing Hisahi Iwakuma (1-1, 5.22).
