Freddy Garcia battles to 150th career victory

Freddy Garcia became the first Venezuelan pitcher to reach 150 victories when the Yankees beat the Mariners, 6-2, on Sunday. His milestone triumph was not much different from the other 149.

"I was able to make pitches when I needed to," he said after scrambling through five innings in which he allowed five hits and four walks and stranded six baserunners. For all of those misadventures, he turned over a 4-2 lead to a lights-out bullpen.

In improving to 150-100 in his 14-year career and evening his 2012 record at 5-5 with a 5.00 ERA, the 35-year-old righthander reminded everyone that makeup can go a long way toward compensating for a less-than-overpowering repertoire.

"I just think it's a mentality he has," manager Joe Girardi said. "He's not afraid to be behind in the count. He's not afraid to throw off-speed when he's behind in the count. He just doesn't give in."

The native of Caracas has been that way since he made his major-league debut with the Mariners in 1999 and placed second to the Royals' Carlos Beltran in the Rookie of the Year balloting. He was an All-Star for the Mariners in 2001 and 2002 before moving on to the White Sox (twice), Phillies, Tigers and Yankees, who re-signed him to a one-year deal after he went 12-8 with a 3.62 ERA last season.

He made two ineffective starts to open this season before pitching well as a reliever. When Andy Pettitte went down with a fractured ankle, Girardi knew whom to call. Although Garcia snapped a personal three-game losing streak in taking the rubber match of the three-game series against the Mariners, he has allowed three or fewer earned runs in six of seven starts since rejoining the rotation July 2.

"He's a warrior out there," said Raul Ibañez (three RBIs).

Garcia yielded a first-inning run for the ninth time in 11 starts when former Yankee Jesus Montero lashed a one-out RBI single. He got John Jaso to ground to second, then received a lift from his defense when rightfielder Nick Swisher threw out Montero at the plate on Kyle Seager's single.

Garcia responded to a pair of two-out walks in the second inning by retiring leadoff man Dustin Ackley on a fly to center. A two-out walk in the third also proved harmless.

Garcia retired the side in order in the fourth and registered two quick outs in the fifth before encountering more trouble in the form of a double by Michael Saunders, another run-scoring single by Montero and a walk to Jaso.

What happened next typified a pitcher and his career. Garcia induced Seager to bounce out to first. Boone Logan, David Robertson and Rafael Soriano nailed down the win, allowing one baserunner in four innings.

Garcia seemed unimpressed after becoming the 12th Latin American-born pitcher to reach 150 victories. "For me, it's another win," he said. "Hopefully, more are coming."