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Hernandez helps M's end 17-game slide

Jul 27, 2011 - 10:39 PM Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Felix Hernandez is already nicknamed "King," but on Wednesday he added yet another moniker: "Streak Buster."

The reigning AL Cy Young winner (9-9) worked seven innings, allowing five hits and one run, as the Seattle Mariners snapped their franchise-worst 17-game losing skid with a 9-2 decision over New York in the finale of a three-game set from Yankee Stadium.

Hernandez improved to 5-0 in his last six starts against the Yanks, and upped his lifetime mark to 4-1 in five starts in the Bronx.

"I wanted (to win) this game so bad," he said.

Mike Carp struck the big blow with a bases-clearing triple in a five-run seventh and tallied four RBI for the Mariners, who hadn't tasted victory since July 5 at Oakland.

"I guarantee you these guys haven't felt this good in a long time," said manager Eric Wedge -- who tried to reverse his club's fortunes during the infamous run by shaving off his moustache. "This is a real big win for us. When you've got a monkey on your back that size, it's damn hard to get it off."

Dustin Ackley finished 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored, and Ichiro Suzuki added four hits and scored twice as Seattle pounded out 17 hits.

Phil Hughes (1-3) was tagged in defeat for nine hits and two runs in six full frames. Robinson Cano and Derek Jeter knocked in a run apiece in the loss.

Ahead 2-1, the Mariners took control of the contest by strafing a trio of Yankees relievers in the seventh.

Cory Wade subbed for Hughes but exited after Suzuki doubled and Brendan Ryan singled with one out. Boone Logan came on, but Ackley reached first and a run scored when Cano botched a flip to Jeter on an attempted force out at second, then Justin Smoak walked to load the bases. Two batters later, Carp tripled off Granderson's glove in deep center to clear the bases and give Seattle a 6-1 edge.

Luis Ayala got the call, and surrendered an RBI double to Franklin Gutierrez before Jack Cust fanned to end the rally.

The Yanks picked up a run in the eighth off Jeff Gray as Granderson hit a leadof double, advanced on a Mark Teixeira groundout and scored on a Cano grounder to short.

In the ninth, Ackley singled then came around when Granderson appeared to lose sight of an Adam Kennedy fly in the sun. Carp followed with a run-scoring hit to make it 9-2.

"We just gave them too many opportunities in the game," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "Yeah, and this one changed the complexion of the whole game. I don't think he lost it in the sun. I think it just traveled a lot further than he thought it was going to."

The Mariners provided Hernandez run support in the third, as Suzuki singled with one out, stole second and came around on an Ackley triple.

It was 2-0 for Seattle in the fifth. Singles by Cust, Josh Bard and Suzuki loaded the bases with one out then, Ackley's base hit brought in Cust but Bard was thrown out at the plate. Suzuki stole third but Smoak grounded into a fielder's choice to end the rally.

New York finally broke through in the home half. Jeter's bases-loaded sacrifice fly brought home Russell Martin -- who led off with a base hit -- but Granderson fanned to end the frame.

Game Notes

For Hernandez, who fanned five and walked four in his outing, it marked the 11th time in 23 starts he has allowed two runs or less...Ryan extended his hit streak to 11 games overall and 13 straight on the road...The Mariners finished their nine-game road trip at 1-8...Seattle's victory deprived New York of its seventh series sweep of 2011...The Yankees fell to 29-7 in day games this season, but are still tops in that department in all of baseball...Both clubs are in action on Friday, with Seattle returning home to host Tampa Bay, while New York concludes its 10-game homestand with the first of four against Baltimore.