Yanks lose to Mariners on HR in 12th

SEATTLE -- The can't-miss scoreboard in leftfield here served as a consistent reminder of what could be.

Win and, as a result of Boston's continued struggles, take a significant step -- meaning a five-game lead -- toward sewing up the AL East.

But the Yankees, against a pitcher they'd twice bludgeoned earlier in the season, were held mostly in check by Justin Vargas and four Mariners relievers in a 2-1 loss in 12 innings Wednesday night at Safeco Field.

The Mariners (62-87), who avoided being swept in the three-game series, won it on Luis Rodriguez's home run off Cory Wade (5-1), on a 2-and-1 pitch, to lead off the 12th.

The Yankees (90-58), who stayed four games ahead of the Red Sox, received a scare in the top of the 12th when Robinson Cano was hit in the right foot by Steve Delabar's 96-mph fastball. Cano stayed in but X-rays were taken on the foot after the game -- they were negative -- and the second baseman walked with a pronounced limp in the clubhouse afterward.

"It hurts,'' said Cano, who expects to play Friday when the Yankees start a three-game series in Toronto. "We'll do ice treatment [Thursday] and hopefully be good to go for Friday . . . hopefully no swelling or a lot of pain.''

Mariano Rivera's pursuit of history was put on hold, as he'll look to tie Trevor Hoffman as the all-time leader in saves at 601.

"You wanted to win this, especially with the Red Sox loss today,'' said Cano, who had one of the Yankees' four hits. "But we want to win every game.''

Ivan Nova, who pitched superbly, allowing one run and five hits in 71/3 innings, got the no-decision and has not lost since June 3.

"I feel good about it,'' said Nova, whose curveball was especially sharp.

The one run he allowed came in the fourth, the result of a walk, single and wild pitch, a curveball to Miguel Olivo that Girardi said "backed up'' on the pitcher.

"I couldn't get it down,'' Nova said. "I didn't give Russell Martin a chance to catch it. That happens.''

Vargas, 0-2 with a 12.86 ERA in two previous starts against the Yankees this season, shut them out for six innings and took a 1-0 lead into the seventh.

Nick Swisher's 23rd homer with two outs in the seventh, on Vargas' 101st and last pitch of the night, tied it at 1.

Nova's unbeaten streak stayed intact because of the work of David Robertson, who escaped what seemed like his 80th jam this season.

Rodriguez led off the eighth with his second double of the night and Trayvon Robinson bunted him to third, bringing up Ichiro Suzuki. Girardi came out to visit but it was to tell Nova to walk Ichiro.

Girardi then made the move to Robertson to face Kyle Seager. Robertson, who has allowed just one run on the road this season, got ahead of Seager 0-and-2 before retiring the third baseman on a fly to short left, not deep enough to bring in Rodriguez. Robertson then got ahead of Dustin Ackley 0-and-2 and struck him out looking at a 95-mph fastball.

"He has the ability to strike people out,'' Girardi said. "So you can bring him into tough situations, and he did it again tonight.''

The Yankees' best scoring chance against Vargas, who allowed one run and three hits in 61/3 innings, came in the third. Andruw Jones led off with a walk and after Martin struck out looking, Eduardo Nuñez, hitless in his previous 13 at-bats, ripped a ball down the leftfield line. Rob Thomson, the always-aggressive Yankees third-base coach, sent Jones, who was thrown out by Ackley, the second baseman.

Relievers from both teams did their jobs until the 12th when Wade left one over to Rodriguez, who hit it well over the wall down the line in right for his second homer of the season.

"It was essentially right down the middle of the plate,''

Wade said. "He did his job and hit it good. There was no doubt it was going out.''