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NYY@SEA: Three Yankees are plunked by the Mariners

SEATTLE -- As Derek Jeter gets older, his bat doesn't seem to be slowing down. The first seven games of the Yankees' current homestand have backed up that idea, and New York's captain will look to continue his hot-hitting ways on Saturday against the Mariners.

Jeter, 38, is 11-for-29 with four runs scored, two doubles and four RBIs during the first seven contests of a nine-game homestand.

"I just kind of chalk it up as Derek being Derek," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He's been pretty healthy for us. We've been able to DH him some, give him an occasional day off here and there. We've tried to make sure that he's not worn down, but I just see Derek being Derek. The part of the season when he really struggled last year was on the pursuit to [career hit No.] 3,000. We don't know if he would have had those struggles if it had not been for the pursuit of 3,000. He might have hit .320 last year if it wasn't. I just think he's being who he is."

On Saturday, Jeter will have an opportunity for a bit of redemption, as the Mariners will start ace Felix Hernandez, who has won five consecutive decisions. The right-hander lost control in the latter innings of his start against the Yankees on July 24 and plunked three batters -- including Jeter -- in one inning.

Hernandez has insisted on several occasions he did not mean to hit Jeter, former teammate Ichiro Suzuki or Alex Rodriguez -- who sustained a non-displaced fracture on his left hand -- and the Yankees have seemed to accept that, as there has been no hint of retaliation.

Aside from his command issues against the Yankees, Hernandez has been lights-out over the past two months. In his last nine starts, the right-hander is 5-0 with a 1.60 ERA.

Starting for the Yankees against Hernandez will be Hiroki Kuroda, who will be vying for his 11th win two starts after dominating the Mariners at Safeco Field on July 23, when he struck out nine and walked one over seven three-hit innings.

"He's been really, really good," Girardi said of Kuroda after that start. "I thought in the month of April he was putting too much pressure on himself, trying to validate coming over here. He's seemed to settle down, and he's been really, really good for us."

Yankees: Chamberlain won't be rushed
• After allowing two runs on four hits in his season debut -- and first appearance since last June -- during Wednesday's win over Baltimore, righty reliever Joba Chamberlain will need time to work his way back into the swing of things, Girardi said.

"It could take a little while for him to get on track and be what we expect him to be because he's been out so long," Girardi said. "Just like any starter or reliever starting a season, or a position player, you're not sure how they're going to start, whether they're going to have a great start or a slow start. I think you have to have some patience."

• CC Sabathia added another strong performance to his history of dominance over the Mariners with a complete-game three-hitter on Friday. The southpaw has now won eight straight starts against the Mariners, a streak that dates back to Aug. 13, 2009, and has a 1.20 ERA in those outings.

Mariners: Saunders expected back in lineup
• Michael Saunders had started 24 of the Mariners' previous 25 games until resting on Friday, but manager Eric Wedge said to expect him back in center field on Saturday.

• With the Mariners making their first trip to New York since trading Ichiro to the Yankees on July 23, Wedge has had time to reflect on his new lineup.

"It's been different, but it's allowed us to play more of our young players consistently," Wedge said. "Our lineup has rarely been the same. We mix and match how we think is best, so this is an opportunity to see guys in different spots in the lineup. Then as we settle into this thing, we'll understand where these guys do belong in the lineup."

Worth noting
• Hernandez is 7-5 with a 3.38 ERA in 13 career starts against the Yankees. His numbers are even better at the new Yankee Stadium, where he's gone 3-1 with a 1.47 ERA.

• The Yankees have won five of their seven games against the Mariners this season, with the final two contests of the series marking the last time they will face each other this year.

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