Next two Mariners’ opponents split doubleheader

On Tuesday, the Mariners begin a three-game series New York against the Yankees before opening a four-game set in Cleveland against the Indians Friday. On Monday, the Yankees and Indians split a morning and afternoon doubleheader at Progressive Field.

Justin Masterson shutout the Yankees Monday morning. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

In game one, Justin Masterson shined for Cleveland. The former Red Sox pitcher threw a complete game four-hit shutout and struck out nine Yankees while walking three. Cleveland got on the board in the first with a solo shot from second baseman Jason Kipnis, and that’s all they would need or get, as they won 1-0.

David Phelps pitched well for the Yankees, allowing just the Kipnis home run and four other hits in 6.2 innings. He struck out seven and walked five.

In the second game, Yankee pitchers Vidal Nuno and Adam Warren combined for a shutout of their own. Nuno started the game, allowing just three hits and striking out three for his first win of 2012, while Warren surrounded just two base knocks in four innings of work for his first career save. The Yankees broke out the bats late in the game, and won the finale 7-0.

Indians starter Trevor Bauer shook off an early first inning run and went six solid innings before running into trouble in the seventh. Austin Romine chased Bauer with a one-out RBI double, and Nick Hagadone surrendered five more runs as the Yankees blew the game open.

A few takeaways. First, the Yankees game two lineup is hilarious, both because of who they played and the fact that they won convincingly. Have a look:

1.  Brett Gardner CF
2. Jason Nix 3B
3. Robinson Cano DH
4. Vernon Wells LF
5. Lyle Overbay 1B
6. Ben Francisco RF
7. Corban Joseph 2B
8. Alberto Gonzalez SS
9. Austin Romine C

Look at that! This is the NEW YORK YANKEES! A starting infield of Nix, Overbay, Joseph, and Gonzalez? That’s a AAA lineup by most standards. Yet the Yankees keep winning, scored seven runs, and improved to 24-14. It’s inexplicable to me how they are playing so well.

Second, The Mariners will likely see both Masterson and Bauer in next weekend’s series, probably on Saturday and Sunday. Masterson looks dangerous, and he’ll likely face Joe Saunders ON THE ROAD. So chalk that one up as a loss for Seattle. Bauer looked decent, but ran out of gas in the seventh. That’s not a huge problem, except he’ll need everything he can muster when he faces Felix Hernandez Sunday. That game looks a little better for the Mariners.

Felix takes the mound Tuesday night in New York against CC Sabathia at 4:05 PT.