Felix Hernandez outduels Joe Blanton as Mariners beat Oakland 4-2
By JANIE McCAULEY | Associated Press | Apr 16, 08 11:32 PM CDT in
Sports
Felix Hernandez found success with all four of his pitches, throwing his first complete game in more than a year to lead the Seattle Mariners past the Oakland Athletics 4-2 Wednesday night.
Hernandez struck out eight in an eight-hitter, retiring 16 of 18 during one stretch. He threw 115 pitches in a game that took only 2 hours, 9 minutes.
Jose Vidro hit a two-run double off Joe Blanton, Adrian Beltre doubled twice and drove in a run and Raul Ibanez had three hits, an RBI and scored twice for Seattle.
Hernandez (2-0) lowered his ERA from 1.66 to 1.52. He already held a 3-0 lead when he took the mound in the bottom of the first, then went out and showed that he can be the ace of the Mariners' staff with Erik Bedard on the disabled list.
The A's dropped their fifth straight to Seattle dating to last season, matching their longest skid against the Mariners also done from June 21 to Sept. 22, 1998. Seattle has won six consecutive games at the Coliseum for the Mariners' most victories in a row in Oakland.
Bobby Crosby scored on an error by shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt in the second for Oakland's first run. Betancourt threw wildly past first base for an error on Kurt Suzuki's infield single. After that hit, Hernandez retired 13 of his next 14 batters and didn't allow another hit until Jack Cust's single to start the seventh.
The A's got three hits off Hernandez in the eighth, including Daric Barton's two-out RBI single. Hernandez then retired Mike Sweeney on a called third strike to finish his strong outing. The right-hander _ who didn't give up an earned run in either of his first two starts but got no-decisions _ pitched his first complete game since a 3-0 win at Boston on April 11, 2007.
Blanton (1-3), making his fifth start after pitching the major league opener in Japan last month, dropped to 0-3 at home this season as the A's lost for only the fourth time in their last 12 games.
The right-hander was tagged for four runs and matched his career high by giving up 12 hits, which he also did against the Mariners last July 8. He struck out two, and didn't walk a batter for the first time this season.
Blanton had allowed two or fewer runs in eight of his first 12 starts against Seattle, but fell behind in a hurry with a shaky first inning.
Ichiro Suzuki singled to start the game, then Jose Lopez grounded out before three straight hits by Seattle _ Ibanez's RBI single followed by back-to-back doubles by Beltre and Vidro.
Beltre hit his second double and sixth of the year to drive in a run in the third.
The Mariners were 14-5 against the A's last season after a 2-17 showing vs. Oakland in 2006. The losses were the most ever by the A's against one team in a single season.
Notes:@ The Mariners recalled reliever Brandon Morrow from Double-A West Tenn to fill the roster spot left open when Bedard went on the DL on Tuesday with hip inflammation. He is slated to throw a bullpen session Friday as part of his recovery. ... The A's returned RHP Fernando Hernandez, a Rule 5 draft pick, to the Chicago White Sox. ... Oakland RHP Justin Duchscherer, on the 15-day DL with a strained right biceps, could pitch in a minor league rehab game as soon as Monday.
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