By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com SEATTLE -- Phil Hughes fired seven strong innings to become the third Yankees pitcher with 11 victories, leading New York to its season-high seventh straight win on Friday, a 6-1 victory over the Mariners. Making his final start before the All-Star break, Hughes punched his first-half ticket with a sharp outing, limiting the Mariners to six hits while walking none and striking out five. Jose Lopez drove in the only run against Hughes, following Chone Figgins' ground-rule double with a double of his own in the sixth inning. It was a bounce-back outing for Hughes, who had allowed nine earned runs in his previous 11 2/3 innings encompassing starts against the Mariners and Blue Jays. Hughes joined CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte in the 11-win club with the decision. It all happened on an evening when the Yankees reported to Safeco Field wondering if they would be facing left-hander Cliff Lee, or perhaps calling him a teammate. That question was answered with Lee's trade to the Rangers in a six-player deal, but they had no picnic facing fill-in David Pauley, who retired 13 straight Bombers through one stretch. After New York got on the board in the first inning on Mark Teixeira's solo home run, his 16th, the Yankees went four innings without a baserunner until Pauley walked Brett Gardner to open the sixth. Lopez's error at third base came on Pauley's final pitch to Derek Jeter, and that opened the door for a four-run inning facing reliever Chad Cordero. Robinson Cano's two-run triple to right-center was the big blow, while Alex Rodriguez and Curtis Granderson also drove in runs. Teixeira added his 17th homer of the season in the ninth, another solo shot, this time from the right side, marking the 10th time in his career he's gone deep from each side of the plate in a game.
