Final
Mariners-Athletics Preview
May 4, 2016 - 6:07 AM It's fitting Felix Hernandez's first shot at becoming the Seattle Mariners' all-time leader in wins is against the team he has beaten the most.As the visiting Mariners look for a series sweep, the right-hander can achieve that milestone with a 23rd career victory over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday.
Hernandez (2-2, 1.38 ERA) matched Jamie Moyer's club mark of 145 victories Friday when he gave up five hits in 7 2/3 innings of a 1-0 win over Kansas City. He broke Randy Johnson's team record for strikeouts last month, and currently has 2,170 in 12 seasons.
''He's been the face of the franchise here for a long time," manager Scott Servais said. "It's nice watching him."
Opponents are batting .165 and have homered twice off Hernandez, who is proud to have his name associated with Moyer's.
"I know Jamie pretty well,'' Hernandez said. ''For me, it's an honor to be with him.''
The Seattle ace has a good chance to surpass Moyer and improve on a 22-8 record and 2.58 ERA that's come over 41 starts against the A's (13-15). He allowed three hits and struck out 10 in seven scoreless innings of a 2-1, 10-inning loss to Oakland on April 10.
''Felix comes out of the game and you almost feel like there's momentum that's in your dugout just by the fact that he's out of the game,'' A's manager Bob Melvin said after that contest.
Seattle (15-11) was swept in that three-game home set last month by Oakland, but can return the favor with a seventh consecutive win at the Coliseum and an 11th victory in 14 contests overall. Kyle Seager hit a three-run homer and Robinson Cano had a solo shot as the Mariners pounded out 13 hits to improve to 10-4 on the road with Tuesday's 8-2 victory.
Among the major league leaders with 25 RBIs, Cano is 7 for 12 this month.
Seager is 6 for 15 with three doubles, two home runs and seven RBIs in four games to raise his average from .139 to .181.
The Mariners will try to stay hot against Sean Manaea, who returns to the mound for the A's after allowing three of his four runs in the sixth inning during a 7-4 win over Houston in his major league debut Friday.
Though the numbers might not say so, the left-hander seemed to leave a positive impression on his teammates.
"I thought he was great,'' first baseman Yonder Alonso said. ''I think his command was great and his poise was incredible. That's what I really liked about him.''
Jed Lowrie had two hits with a RBI on Tuesday for Oakland, which has totaled six runs while going 0-3 in May.
''It's temporary. We have to be tough outs and stay within ourselves. It will come,'' said outfielder Khris Davis, who homered for the third time in two nights. ''We have to have the confidence we'll pick each other up.''
While Lowrie is batting .404 with seven RBIs in 15 games, Josh Reddick is 4 for 27 in seven.
Reddick is batting .135 in 52 at-bats against Hernandez. Lowrie went 1 for 3 with a double off him last month.
- SEATTLE: 9
OAKLAND: 8
Final
Sep 26 11:58 AM - Dae-Ho Lee homers to left field. Kyle Seager scores.
Mariners 9, Athletics 8 Top 7, 2 OutsMay 4 5:57 PM - Kyle Seager singles to left center field. Franklin Gutierrez scores.
Mariners 7, Athletics 8 Top 7, 1 OutMay 4 5:48 PM - Nori Aoki out on a sacrifice fly to center field to Billy Burns. Leonys Martin scores.
Mariners 6, Athletics 8 Top 6, 1 OutMay 4 5:28 PM - Chris Coghlan singles to left field. Billy Butler to second. Khris Davis scores.
Mariners 4, Athletics 8 Bot 5, 1 OutMay 4 5:16 PM - Billy Butler singles to left field. Khris Davis to second. Josh Reddick scores.
Mariners 4, Athletics 7 Bot 5, 1 OutMay 4 5:14 PM - Khris Davis reaches on error. Josh Reddick to second. Jed Lowrie scores. Billy Burns scores. Fielding error by Kyle Seager.
Mariners 4, Athletics 6 Bot 5, 0 OutsMay 4 5:09 PM - Josh Reddick reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Jed Lowrie to second. Billy Burns to third. Marcus Semien scores. Fielding error by Felix Hernandez.
Mariners 4, Athletics 4 Bot 5, 0 OutsMay 4 5:07 PM - Jed Lowrie singles to left field. Billy Burns to second. Marcus Semien to third. Yonder Alonso scores.
Mariners 4, Athletics 3 Bot 5, 0 OutsMay 4 5:04 PM - Nelson Cruz homers to deep center field. Robinson Cano scores.
Mariners 4, Athletics 2 Top 5, 2 OutsMay 4 4:51 PM - Robinson Cano singles to center field. Ketel Marte scores.
Mariners 2, Athletics 2 Top 5, 2 OutsMay 4 4:50 PM - Ketel Marte doubles to deep left field. Nori Aoki scores.
Mariners 1, Athletics 2 Top 5, 2 OutsMay 4 4:49 PM - Billy Butler reaches on a fielder's choice to first base. Khris Davis to third. Josh Reddick scores.
Mariners 0, Athletics 2 Bot 4, 1 OutMay 4 4:40 PM - Nori Aoki strikes out swinging.
May 4 3:38 PM
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