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Hernandez, Mariners crush Athletics

Jul 28, 2007 - 6:06 AM By Paul Lowenberg PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SEATTLE (Ticker) - Felix Hernandez continued his mastery of the Oakland Athletics on Friday.

Hernandez pitched seven stellar innings and Jose Guillen capped a four-run fourth to help the Seattle Mariners snap a season-high, seven-game losing streak with a 7-1 triumph over the Athletics.

Hot-hitting Adrian Beltre drove in three runs for the Mariners, who had been outscored, 36-18, over their losing stretch.

The 21-year-old Hernandez (7-6), who threw 120 pitches, has posted a 3-0 record with a 0.39 ERA against Oakland this season.

The Venezuelan righthander, who had lost his last two starts, allowed just one run and seven hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.

"(Hernandez) did something that he's got to do," Mariners manager John McLaren said. "When we score, he's got to put a zero on that board. And as soon as he put that zero on the board I went over and told him that was the sign of a good pitcher."

In his previous start against Toronto, Hernandez had been roughed up for six runs on seven hits and four walks in an 8-0 loss. He said he took some lessons away from that game.

"I learned not to lose my focus," Hernandez said. "When you lose your focus you see what happened in Toronto. I just stayed focused and threw a lot of strikes."

Nick Swisher ended Hernandez's 16-inning scoreless streak against the Athletics with a solo blast in the opening frame. The homer didn't faze Hernandez.

"It's a long game. It's a nine-inning game and that was just one run," Hernandez said. "I just tried to keep us in the game. I know this team will score some runs, so that was the most important thing I did."

Hernandez had to pitch his way out of trouble in the sixth when the A's loaded the bases on three consecutive hits with one out. But Hernandez struck out Marco Scutaro and received some help from third baseman Beltre, who made a fine diving stop to throw out Donnie Murphy and preserve the lead.

"He's a max-effort guy who's throwing 96 (miles per hour) at least," Oakland center fielder Mark Kotsay said. "Anytime you have a guy who can effectively command three pitches, you're going to have your work cut out for you."

Guillen gave the Mariners some breathing room in the fourth when his two-run shot off Athletics rookie starter Dallas Braden (1-6) opened up a 7-1 advantage and capped the rally.

"It's nice to hit a home run, but that was a very important win for us," Guillen said. "We need to start winning and this is a game where we pretty much had to come up and play our best."

Beltre hit a three-run double in the third to give Seattle a 3-1 advantage. The 28-year-old slugger has five doubles and eight RBI over his last three games.

Ichiro Suzuki and Jose Vidro both had RBI singles in the fourth inning. Suzuki now has 1,499 career hits and could become the third fastest player since 1900 to reach 1,500 hits behind just Al Simmons and George Sisler.

Braden was tagged for seven runs - four earned - and seven hits over just four innings.

Braden won his first major league start on April 24 but has now lost six consecutive decisions. He is 0-3 since his recall from Class AAA Sacramento on July 16.

Swisher has three home runs in the first two games of this series.