Jul 9, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez (34) throws against the Oakland Athletics during the third inning at Safeco Field. Photo Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
SEATTLE – Felix Hernandez pitched six scoreless innings and Nelson Cruz hit a home run as the Seattle Mariners defeated the Oakland Athletics 4-0 Sunday afternoon at Safeco Field.
Hernandez (4-3) allowed two hits, walked three and struck out a season-high eight. The right-hander, who was making his fourth start since coming off the disabled list, lowered his ERA from 5.04 to 4.44. He was sidelined from April 26 through June 22 with inflammation in his right shoulder.
The only hits Hernandez allowed were a one-out double to Matt Joyce in the third inning and a two-out single to Jaycob Brugman in the fifth.
Hernandez got his first strikeout when he fanned Matt Chapman with two on to end the second inning. Hernandez struck out two batters in each of the next three innings, and capped his day by getting Jed Lowrie to swing at a third strike to end the sixth.
Seattle’s Tony Zych, Marc Rzepczynski, Nick Vincent and Edwin Diaz combined for three hitless innings of relief to cap the victory.
Cruz’s two-run homer to right-center field in the fourth inning gave the Mariners a 3-0 lead against A’s right-hander Daniel Gossett (1-4). It came after fellow All-Star Robinson Cano led off with a double.
The Mariners opened the scoring in the third, as Jarrod Dyson led off with a walk, moved to third on a single to shallow left field by Carlos Ruiz and scored when Jean Segura grounded into a double play.
After Cruz’s homer, the Mariners tacked on a run in the seventh. Danny Valencia walked, went to second on a single by Dyson and scored on Ruiz’s single to left.
NOTES: Seattle (43-47) won for just the second time in its past 11 home games to split the four-game series. Oakland entered the All-Star break with a 39-50 record. … Mariners C Carlos Ruiz, who entered the game with a .194 average, went 3-for-3 to improve his average to .227. … Oakland LF Khris Davis struck out once and has fanned 117 times this season, a franchise record for most before the All-Star break. … The Mariners are 40-15 when scoring four or more runs this season. … Mariners RHP Nick Vincent pitched a scoreless inning of relief. Vincent hasn’t allowed a run in 21 appearances at home this season, spanning 20 innings.
