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Hernandez shuts down Angels again

Sep 7, 2011 - 5:36 AM Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Felix Hernandez shut down the contending Angels for the second time in a week, tossing eight effective innings to carry the Mariners to a 2-1 win in the middle installment of a three-game series.

Hernandez (14-11) was charged with one unearned run on four hits while walking two and striking out seven. In doing so, the right-hander surpassed the win total of his AL Cy Young Award-winning season of a year ago.

"Felix was strong all night," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. "He pitches at a level that very few do."

The Mariners stranded 14 base runners, but capitalized on several miscues early on to snap a five-game slide.

Ervin Santana (11-10) took the loss after allowing two unearned runs on seven hits and two walks. He lasted six innings, his shortest outing since going five frames against the Marlins on June 21.

The Angels committed four errors and fell 3 1/2 games behind the AL West- leading Rangers, losing for the third time in eight games. Two of those losses came against Hernandez, who went the distance in a 2-1 decision on August 31.

After both clubs stranded a runner in scoring position in the first inning, Seattle put its first three hitters on base in the second with a leadoff single and errors by Alberto Callaspo and Santana.

Santana limited the damage to Trayvon Robinson's sacrifice fly, but was hurt by another miscue in the fourth when Erick Aybar booted a ball hit by Kyle Seager, who eventually scored on Michael Saunders' fielder's choice to second.

"A couple of miscues got us tonight. When facing a tough pitcher, you can't crack the door open," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Aybar had a chance to atone for the error in the fifth, but grounded out to strand runners on the corners.

In the home sixth, Torii Hunter bunted his way on and advanced to second when Hernandez rushed his throw to first. Callaspo knocked in Hunter with a two-out single, but the final 10 Angels hitters were retired, the last three by Brandon League en route to his 33rd save.

Game Notes

Hernandez accompanied a 2.27 earned-run average with a 13-12 record in 34 starts last year. His ERA this season stands at 3.15...Aybar went 0-for-3 with a walk, snapping a career-high 15-game hitting streak...Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki went 1-for-4. He needs 39 hits over the final 21 games to reach 200 hits for an 11th straight season, which would set a Major League Baseball record...The Mariners won for just the fourth time in their last 22 games at Angel Stadium...Santana had gone 8-1 in his previous 13 starts.