SEATTLE _ Next on the New York Yankees' list of Next Man Up heroes, Mike Ford belted home runs in his first two at-bats on Monday night.
It's been a standout West Coast trip for Ford, but it wasn't an easy time for the Yankees at T-Mobile Park against the Seattle Mariners.
Transitioning from the electric atmosphere of Dodger Stadium and a series against the NL's top team, the Yankees held on for a 5-4 victory against the last place club in the AL West.
Once more, Yankees starter J.A. Happ was hurt _ but not fatally _ by the long ball.
Happ lasted five innings and yielded just two hits, but one was a three-run homer by Dylan Moore just after the Yankees had batted around during a four-run second inning.
And both clubs had their troubles with Monday's umpiring crew, specifically with complaints about plate ump Manny Gonzalez's strike zone.
But the Yankees' displeasure centered around their newest pitcher, recent ex-Mariner Cory Gearrin, and his toe-tapping delivery.
During a lengthy sixth-inning conversation at the mound, Gearrin was visibly upset in speaking with Gonzalez and crew chief Sam Holbrook about the legality of the quick toe-tap by the right-hander before he picks up his foot again and drives to the plate.
Obviously, the Mariners are quite aware of Gearrin's delivery quirk; the 33-year-old reliever pitched 48 games for Seattle this year before his release last week.
This was Gearrin's second appearance for the Yankees, who claimed him off waivers last Friday.
Gearrin gave up a leadoff single to Austin Nola (who moved to second on a balk) and he walked Kyle Seager, which led to the lengthy discussion involving manager Aaron Boone.
Gearrin faced one more batter, striking out Tom Murphy, before being relieved by Nestor Cortes Jr.
As Boone came out to remove his pitcher, Gearrin spiked the resin bag in anger _ a reaction that appeared to be out of his frustration with the umpires.
Gearrin seemed to say something apologetically to Boone and gave his manager a reassuring pat before exiting the mound.
Cortes got the Yanks out of the inning, but gave up a solo home run to Mallex Smith in the seventh, cutting the lead to 5-4.
Smith was in the game because Mariners outfielder Keon Broxton was tossed in the second inning.
After striking out looking to end the frame, Broxton _ with his back to home plate _ tossed his bat, helmet and batting gloves. One of the gloves brushed Gonzalez in the face, earning Broxton an immediate ejection.
After Seattle used Matt Wisler as the opener in a quick first inning, Ford connected twice off lefty Tommy Milone.
After his second homer, Ford was a healthy 8-for-14 on the road trip with four homers _ including one on Sunday against Dodgers ace lefty Clayton Kershaw, helping the Yankees win two of three games at Dodger Stadium.
"He knows the strike zone, the power is real," Boone said of Ford before the game. "I'm confident anytime he's in the game that he's going to give us a good at-bat."
