Meche a Shining Star in New York

NEW YORK — Gil Meche has spent much of his promising young career just trying to get healthy. He seems to have mastered the art of pitching at Yankee Stadium quite quickly, however.

Meche pitched two-hit ball for a career-high eight innings, and the Seattle Mariners ended Andy Pettitte’s winning streak at eight with a 2-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Saturday.

It was Meche’s second big performance at Yankee Stadium this season -- he threw 7 2/3 innings in a 6-0 victory against Roger Clemens on April 29.

“It’s a good feeling to come in here and do the same thing I did against Clemens,” Meche said. “For me, that was the biggest game I’ve ever pitched. It’s a big-time place to play. I just love big games.”

Meche (13-7) has won three consecutive starts following a four-game losing streak. The 24-year-old right-hander spent last season at double-A San Antonio after not pitching in 2001 after shoulder surgery.

West Division-leader Seattle scored its runs on Mike Cameron’s RBI groundout and Bret Boone’s sacrifice fly, and ended a three-game losing streak. The top two teams in the league have split the first two games of the three-game series.

Nick Johnson homered in the fourth inning for the Yankees, who had their lead over Boston in the East Division reduced to three games.

Hideki Matsui’s fifth-inning single was the only other hit off Meche, who faced only one more than the minimum and retired his final 10 batters.

Shigetoshi Hasegawa worked a one-hit ninth for his ninth save in nine chances. He has not yielded a run in his last 24 innings, dating to June 1.

Pettitte (13-7) had won a career-best eight consecutive decisions since losing to the Chicago Cubs on June 8.