Associated Press:Jose Molina hit a two-out RBI double to cap a four-run eighth inning, and the New York Yankees came back to beat the slumping Seattle Mariners 6-5 on Sunday for their season-best fifth straight victory.
The Yankees won consecutive series for the first time this season, while the Mariners have lost a season-worst six games in a row. Seattle owns the worst record in the AL at 18-33.
New York (25-25) was down 5-2 coming into the eighth and had been 0-23 when trailing after seven innings. Derek Jeter led off with a walk against reliever Sean Green before Arthur Rhodes came in for the lefty-on-lefty matchup against Bobby Abreu, who doubled to drive in Jeter.
In came closer J.J. Putz (1-2) to try to get the six-out save. Instead, he got the loss. Putz walked Alex Rodriguez and struck out Jason Giambi looking to bring up pinch-hitter Hideki Matsui, who had been rested against left-handed starter Jarrod Washburn.
Matsui hit a soft grounder to the right of the mound, and Putz fielded it with a dive. But his attempt to throw to first from his knees was wild, allowing Abreu to score and Rodriguez to move to third. Matsui was credited with an infield single and Putz was charged with an error.
Robinson Cano drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly and Matsui alertly tagged up as well, advancing to second. Molina put the Yankees on top with a double to deep right-center over the head of Ichiro Suzuki, who was playing shallow in center and took a poor route toward the ball.
Edwar Ramirez (1-0) pitched 1 2-3 scoreless inning to get the win. Mariano Rivera picked up his 12th save in 12 chances with a perfect ninth as New York completed its second three-game sweep of Seattle at Yankee Stadium this month.
It was the first time this year the Yankees overcame a deficit of more than two runs to win a game.
