Julie Jacobson / AP

Chien-Ming Wang delivers against the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.

Rodriguez also made a great play to retire Lopez for the final out of the sixth. He charged a slow roller up the line and made a strong throw to nip Lopez at first as the crowd roared.

“He threw the ball so well today,” Rodriguez said. “It was exciting. I don’t get to appreciate how well his ball moves from where I play. I’m just consumed with the thought that I’m going to be busy.”

Ichiro Suzuki hit a grounder off Wang’s left shin in the fourth but the right-hander threw him out at first. The trainer came out to check on him but Wang was fine.

Suzuki led off the seventh with a deep drive into the gap, but left fielder Hideki Matsui caught it on the run.

“He wasn’t leaving a whole lot over the middle of the plate,” said Willie Bloomquist, who went 0-for-3 against Wang. “It’s deceptive because when you’re up there it looks like it’s going to be down the heart of the plate but then that late movement kind of gets in on you, or jams you a little bit, or makes you hit it off the end.”

New York broke open the game in the sixth when Jeff Weaver (0-5) started struggling with his control. Weaver, a former Yankee, hit Matsui with a pitch with the bases loaded and also walked Melky Cabrera to force in another run.

Posada also had a run-scoring single and Jeter a two-run double in the five-run inning.

Weaver, who recorded just one out in his previous start, went 5 2-3 innings against the Yankees, allowing six runs and nine hits. He has given up 29 runs and 40 hits in 17 innings over five starts this season.

“He threw the ball well,” said Mariners manager Mike Hargrove, who added Weaver will take his next turn in the rotation. “If he throws like that the rest of the year we’re going to be all right.”

Notes: Rodriguez was hit on his left elbow by a pitch in the seventh inning. He said he hopes he’ll be able to play Sunday. ... Yankees CF Johnny Damon didn’t play after his right calf cramped up during his last at-bat in Seattle’s 15-11 win Friday night. He is day to day. ... Yankees RHP Darrell Rasner was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and RHP Colter Bean was sent down. Rasner will start against the Mariners on Sunday. ... Mariners 3B Adrian Beltre and DH Jose Vidro got the day off.

More news

Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images

Who deserves some early awards?

DeMarco: David Wright's hot bat — he's hitting .405 — makes him the pick for NL MVP thus far. But that's just for starters in our feature.

Pujols homers, Angels rally past Mariners

SEATTLE (AP) - Pinch-hitter Howie Kendrick broke a tie in the top of the ninth inning with a two-run single off Seattle closer Brandon League, and the Los Angeles Angels rallied from a 4-0 deficit for a 6-4 win over the Mariners on Friday night.

Headlines

• Label

Pirates blank Cubs for 10th straight loss

Joyce, Rays slam Red Sox  |  HBT: Benches clear

Nats handle Braves, extend NL East lead

Rangers crush Jays behind Cruz's 8 RBI

Yankees homer past Athletics, 6-3

White Sox stay hot as Dunn hits 15th HR

Stanton 1st player to hit Marlins' sculpture

HBT: Hamilton homers for first time since May 12