When Mariano talks, Rafael Soriano listens.
The career saves leader was watching when his fill-in gave up a three-run homer in the ninth inning of the Yankees' extra-inning loss Monday night and had some thoughts. So the injured star sought out Soriano when he visited the clubhouse Tuesday afternoon and gave him some advice.
" 'Why you got to throw too many sliders, when you got a good fastball?' " Soriano said Rivera asked him. "I said, 'Forget about last night and let me do something different.' "
Soriano stuck to the new plan Tuesday and struck out two in the ninth, closing out a fine home start for Phil Hughes that sent New York to a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Hughes (13-11) won his sixth consecutive decision at Yankee Stadium, allowing only Adeiny Hechavarria's first major league homer in seven effective innings. Then he turned it over to David Robertson and Soriano to finish off the four-hitter.
"The best day I had all year," Soriano said.
Nick Swisher had an RBI single in the third and Curtis Granderson hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth to help the Yankees to their fifth win in 12 games. They handed Ricky Romero (8-12) his 11th straight loss and beat him for the third time during his winless skid. He walked two and yielded five hits and two runs in seven innings.
The left-hander has not won in 12 starts since June 22. The Blue Jays have provided little help, though, giving him just 17 runs of support in his last 10 starts.
MARINERS 5, TWINS 2
MINNEAPOLIS - Dustin Ackley hit a three-run homer, Hisashi Iwakuma was hard to hit and the Seattle Mariners beat the stumbling Minnesota Twins 5-2.
Iwakuma (5-3) gave up just one hit and one unearned run over six innings in another strong start for the rookie from Japan. The right-hander struck out four and helped send the Twins to their 16th defeat in their last 19 games despite four walks, a hit batsman and a wild pitch.
