Twins 0 - 2 Mariners
Final
  for this game

Twins take their swings against King Felix

Apr 24, 2015 - 11:07 AM (SportsNetwork.com) - Felix Hernandez tries to follow up another terrific performance on Friday when the Seattle Mariners open a three-game set with the Minnesota Twins at Safeco Field.

Hernandez showed no ill effects from the right quad issue that limited him two starts ago on Saturday versus Texas, as he struck out 12, allowed two hits and one run over seven innings to run his record to 2-0 on the year, while lowering his ERA to 2.37.

It was his 34th career double-digit strikeout game and his 11th career start with at least 12.

"He's definitely the stopper," Mariners shortstop Brad Miller said. "Any time he's out there you feel like you're going to win one. He came out and gave us exactly what we needed. When he gets out there, you know your fortunes can change pretty quick."

Hernandez is 7-5 with a 2.08 ERA in 16 games against the Twins, including 3-0 with a 0.79 ERA in four starts over the past three years.

It's hard to blame Hernandez for Seattle's slow start out of the gates. Picked by many to reach the postseason, the Mariners are floundering in the AL West at 6-9. Luckily for them, though, they are only two games back of the division-leading Houston Astros.

The Mariners certainly didn't help themselves any this week, as they dropped two of three to the Astros, but did manage to salvage the finale, 3-2.

Mike Zunino hit a solo homer and Miller went 2-for-3 with an RBI behind J.A. Happ (1-1), who scattered eight hits and two runs over 7 1/3 innings to pick up his first win of the year.

"He's a veteran starter that knows what he's doing and gives us quality innings," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said of Happ .

Minnesota, meanwhile, also comes into this series at 6-9 after avoiding a three-game sweep at the hands of the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. Mike Pelfrey and two Twins relievers combined for a six-hit shutout in the 3-0 win over the Royals.

Pelfrey (1-0) scattered five hits and two walks, while Casey Fien and Glen Perkins each tossed a scoreless inning of relief to finish off the shutout.

"I tried to keep them off the base paths ... because these guys are good," Pelfrey said of the Royals.

Hoping for a similar effort the Twins will turn to righty Phil Hughes, who was the team's best pitcher a season ago, but is still searching for his first win this year. Hughes fell to 0-3 on Saturday versus Cleveland, as he surrendered four runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings to raise his ERA to 5.30.

"I just think I don't have my best fastball yet," Hughes said. "I don't have my best cutter command. And last year, those were two big things I could lean. So until those two come around, I have to mix other things in."

Hughes opened last year with a 7.20 ERA through his first three outings before posting a 3.24 ERA in 29 starts the rest of the way.

Minnesota took five of seven from the Mariners last season.






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