Recap: Yankees 2, Mariners 1

CC Sabathia tossed six innings of one-run ball and the Yankees snuck past the Mariners, 2-1, in the series finale Sunday at Yankee Stadium.

Just Like '09: Sabathia logged arguably his best outing of the season in this one, holding Seattle to just six hits while walking one and striking out seven. The inconsistent lefty fanned four consecutive in the third and fourth, only experiencing issues when an Austin Jackson single plated a run in the fifth.

Welcome Back: Down 1-0 and in danger of blowing a golden opportunity in the sixth, the Yankees got a big offensive boost from a returning veteran.

Carlos Beltran, just activated off the DL, laced a clutch RBI single to left off the Mariners' Felix Hernandez -- driving in Brett Gardner and evening the score. The Yankees had had men on the corners with one out prior to a strikeout of Brian McCann, which brought up Beltran as the club's last hope in the frame. 

Guess his critics will have to leave him alone for the day.

The Gluten-Free Diet is Paying Off: Mark Teixeira continue his All-Star campaign with a go-ahead solo shot in the eighth, a liner to the short porch in right off the struggling Fernando Rodney. The Yankees have now gone deep in each of their last eight games, the longest such streak in the division. 

20-for-20: Andrew Miller really seems to like ninth innings.

After allowing just one baserunner in Friday's contest, the Yankees' closer breezed through the M's lower third on Sunday -- striking out Dustin Ackley and Chris Taylor swinging before ending it with a Mike Zunino flyout. In all, Miller threw just 13 pitches in the inning -- earning him his twentieth save in as many opportunities.

That total is tied for the sixth-highest in the American League, though Miller was injured from June 10 to July 8.

Pulling Away: Still too early to say they've won it, but the Yankees' grasp on the AL East is certainly getting serious. With their two victories this weekend, New York has jumped out to a commanding four-game lead over the second-place Orioles -- their lone above .500 rival at the moment.

Next Up: The Yankees will resume this homestand on Tuesday when they host those Orioles in the first of a three-game set -- beginning at 7:05 p.m. ET and airing live on MLB Network. Nathan Eovaldi (9-2, 4.50 ERA) will start for the Pinstripes hoping for a fifth straight positive decision, facing always-solid O's ace Wei-Yin Chen (4-5, 2.78 ERA).