SEATTLE, May 9 (UPI) -- Alfonso Soriano collected three hits and capped a 10-run third inning with a two-run homer Thursday night as the New York Yankees pounded out 17 hits and rolled to a 16-5 over the Seattle Mariners.
The Yankees scored 10 runs in an inning for the first time since a 19-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 25, 1996. That win clinched New York's first division title since 1981 and sent the Yankees on their way to their first World Series title since 1978 and the first of four championships under Manager Joe Torre.
It was the second 10-run inning during Torre's tenure as the Yankees had seven hits and sent 13 men to the plate. It was also the 11th time this season New York had batted around.
Soriano came into the game mired in a one-for-19 slump that had lowered his batting average to .336. He struck out in the first inning but singled and scored the second run of the third when Bernie Williams drew a bases-loaded walk.
Seattle starter Freddy Garcia (3-4) was rocked for nine runs and seven hits in 2 1/3 innings. He gave up RBI singles to Hideki Matsui and Robin Ventura and departed after rookie Erick Almonte's two-run double extended the lead to 8-3.
Julio Mateo came on and surrendered Soriano's team-leading 11th homer that capped New York's third 10-run inning in the last decade. New York starter David Wells (5-0) allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings. In his 100th start in a Yankee uniform, Wells improved to 5-0 for the first time in his career.
