NEW YORK, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Rookie Eduardo Nunez drove in the go-ahead run with his first major league hit Saturday and the New York Yankees went on to down Seattle 9-5.
Nunez, starting at third base in place of injured superstar Alex Rodriguez, slapped a one-out RBI single in the seventh inning, igniting a three-run rally as the Yanks evened their three-game series with Seattle at one win apiece.
Jorge Posada cracked a two-run homer and Robinson Cano chipped in with two hits and two RBI for New York, which came into the game with a one-game lead over Tampa Bay atop the American League East.
Boone Logan (1-0) got credit for the win with a scoreless seventh and Mariano Rivera notched a four-out save, his 25th of the season.
Seattle starter Jason Vargas (9-6) surrendered seven runs on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings.
Ichiro Suzuki went 3-for-5 and pounded a pair of solo homers and Russell Branyan launched a mammoth blast that reached the third deck of Yankee Stadium for the Mariners.
