Juan Soto hit a milestone home run and Aaron Judge drove in four runs as the New York Yankees pummeled the host Seattle Mariners 11-2 on Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series.
Jasson Dominguez also went deep for the Yankees (88-63), who extended their lead over the Baltimore Orioles atop the American League East to four games.
Yankees right-hander Luis Gil (14-6) allowed one run on four hits over five innings, walking three and striking out five.
Soto’s two-run shot in the fourth inning off Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo (8-3) was his 40th of the season and 200th of his career. It also gave him home runs in every major league stadium.
Julio Rodriguez went 4-for-5 and Jorge Polanco and Luke Raley hit solo shots for the Mariners (77-74), who fell three games back of the final AL wild-card position.
The Yankees, who hadn’t scored a run in two previous attempts facing Woo, jumped out to an early lead.
In the first inning, Gleyber Torres reached on a dribbler down the third base line, Soto doubled to center and Judge followed with a two-run double into the left field corner.
The Mariners loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the inning as Gil struggled with his command. With a 3-0 count on Justin Turner, Victor Robles tried to steal home while Gil went to the rosin bag at the back of the mound. Gil recognized the situation just in time, throwing to catcher Austin Wells to nab Robles and end the inning. Robles, who reached by after being hit by a pitch, had to leave the game with a contusion on his right hand.
The Yankees tacked on two more runs in the second. Alex Verdugo singled with two outs, Torres blooped a single to shallow right, Soto walked and Judge lined a two-run single to left.
Polanco homered to right in the bottom of the inning to pull the Mariners within 4-1, but Soto’s blast pushed the Yankees’ lead to 6-1.
Dominguez went deep in the fifth, ending Woo’s night.
Woo, who was 5-0 with a 1.66 ERA at home this season, gave up seven runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts.
Wells’ three-run double in the sixth gave the Yankees a 10-1 lead.
Raley went deep to left-center off Marcus Stroman in the eighth. Stroman worked the final three innings for his second career save.
Mariners utility infielder Leo Rivas pitched the ninth and allowed one unearned run.
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