MLB

Yankees scrap out 3 of 4 in Seattle

CHRIS IN THE CLUTCH: Chris Stewart (above) delivers an RBI single in the ninth, giving the Yankees a 2-1 win after six strong inning from David Phelps kept them in the game against Mariners ace Felix Hernandez.

CHRIS IN THE CLUTCH: Chris Stewart (above) delivers an RBI single in the ninth, giving the Yankees a 2-1 win after six strong inning from David Phelps kept them in the game against Mariners ace Felix Hernandez. (Getty Images)

CHRIS IN CLUTCH: Chris Stewart (inset) delivers an RBI single in the ninth, giving the Yankees a 2-1 win after six strong innings from David Phelps kept them in the game against Mariners ace Felix Hernandez. (
)

SEATTLE — The way Mariano Rivera sees it from the bullpen, nobody should be shocked how the Yankees are winning games despite bleeding for every run.

“It’s not a surprise, we have been winning games that way all season,’’ Rivera said of yesterday’s 2-1 victory over the Mariners in front of 43,389 at Safeco Field. “Every day it is a different guy. It’s not one player we are relying on. It’s all nine guys on the field and the bench.’’

In different times, Chris Stewart, the No. 9 hitter, wouldn’t have received the chance to be a hero in the ninth, when he delivered a two-out, ground single to left that scored Ichiro Suzuki from second to give Rivera a one-run lead to work with in the ninth.

With the left-handed Lyle Overbay on the bench ready to pinch hit and righty Yoervis Medina on the mound, Joe Girardi had another option instead of sending Stewart to the plate.

“We talked about using Overbay in the bottom of the order, but then they would have brought in the lefty [Oliver Perez],” Girardi said. “We liked the matchup and we stuck with it.’’

When third-base coach Rob Thomson sent Ichiro racing home, the Yankees were rewarded for sticking with Stewart, who went 2-for-4.

“He was kind of similar to [Mariners starter] Felix [Hernandez],’’ Stewart said of Medina. “He had a sinking fastball and it kind of helped [having seen Hernandez.] He left a pitch up over the plate.’’

The Yankees, who have won six of seven after losing seven of eight, didn’t hang a loss on Hernandez. However, because David Phelps matched one of baseball’s elite hurlers, they were able to stay close.

“You have to keep trying to pitch your game and keep them off the board as much as possible,’’ Phelps said of sharing the mound with somebody like Hernandez.

Thanks to a misbehaving fastball, Phelps struggled in the first two innings, needing 45 pitches to get six outs. However, his final four frames were solid.

“I was really locked in,’’ said Phelps, who concentrated on staying back over the rubber following the second inning, when he gave up two hits, a walk and a run. “It’s good to make in-game adjustments instead of letting it snowball.’’

In six innings Phelps allowed a run, three hits, walked three and fanned six. In comparison, Hernandez allowed a run, five hits, walked two and whiffed seven in seven innings.

Yet Phelps’ second solid outing was only good enough for a push going into the ninth, when Ichiro opened with a five-pitch walk. Jayson Nix bunted Ichiro to second and Reid Brignac flied to left.

“Usually I don’t get a chance, especially against right-handers,’’ Stewart said. “Fortunately, Joe had confidence in me. My mind is made up that I am going to hit until Joe tells me I am not [hitting ]. I have to make sure my mind is right.’’

Having cleared the Hernandez hurdle and watching David Robertson (4-1) survive a leadoff double by Alex Liddi in the eighth, the Yankees handed the ball to Rivera and asked for three outs that would give them three of four against the Mariners and pour a solid foundation to a 10-game West Coast trip.

Three of the five batters Rivera faced reached base, but he got a key double play started by Mark Teixeira and stranded two when Michael Saunders ended it with a routine fly to left.

“It’s important going into [today’s] off day,’’ Girardi said. “The week we had prior to this week, we were 1-6 and now 6-1. That’s pretty good.’’

Yet, by now, not surprising.

george.king@nypost.com