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Mariners try to get King Felix on track vs. Athletics

Apr 21, 2011 - 2:44 PM (Sports Network) - Felix Hernandez tries to put a shaky start to the year behind him this evening when the Seattle Mariners begin a four-game series with the Oakland Athletics at Safeco Field.

Since going the distance to beat the Athletics on Opening Day, Hernandez has gone 0-2 over his last three starts and has allowed 16 runs (11 earned) and 24 hits in 18 innings. Of course, he has also received a total of three runs of support in those starts, none of which have come in his last two assignments.

On Saturday in Kansas City, Hernandez was hit for five runs (two earned) and six hits in just five innings. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner has pitched to a 4.33 ERA this season.

"It will be fine," Hernandez said. "It's just the beginning of the season. We're trying hard. We're trying to do the best we can. We've just got to keep working hard, just keep trying to hit and pitch. That's all we can do."

Facing the A's, though, could get King Felix back on track, as he owns a 10-4 lifetime mark against them with a 2.77 ERA in 18 starts. He allowed two runs and five hits, while striking out five without walking a batter against them back on April 1.

Seattle enters tonight's tilt having lost six of its last eight after dropping two of three to the Detroit Tigers, including a 3-2 setback in Wednesday's rubber match.

Erik Bedard (0-4) continued to struggle for the Mariners, taking the loss after giving up three runs in five innings. He surrendered five hits and five walks, striking out two.

"I was a little inconsistent, but it's getting there," said Bedard, who missed all of last season because of left shoulder surgery. "I don't know if it will ever be like it used to be after three surgeries. You just work hard, do the best you can, hopeful good things happen."

Oakland, meanwhile, also enters on a sour note after it had a three-game winning streak stopped on Wednesday, falling to the Boston Red Sox, 5-3, at the Coliseum. Coco Crisp went 2-for-5 and knocked in two runs in the setback, but the A's were just 3-of-15 with runners in scoring position and left 15 men on base.

Gio Gonzalez (2-1) took the loss after surrendering eight hits and four earned runs in six innings. He came into the game having pitched 17 straight scoreless innings.

"This is a tough team to keep down," said Gonzalez of the Red Sox. "It's one of those things where, you make a mistake, they're going to make you pay for it and that's exactly what they did."

Going for Oakland tonight will be right-hander Brandon McCarthy, who is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA. McCarthy was terrific his last time out, but did not get a decision, despite tossing six scoreless innings against the Tigers.

"I thought it was a pretty good outing on the whole," McCarthy said. "I battled my command for a little bit. I wasn't as sharp as I felt I had been my first two outings, but I felt like I did a pretty good job making some pitches to get out of some jams. Some good pitches to some good hitters. So I'm happy with it, in that regard."

He is 1-2 against the Mariners over the course of his career and has pitched to a 6.67 ERA in seven games (six starts) against them.

Seattle took two of three from the A's to open the year, but Oakland has won eight of the last 11 in the series, including the last five at Safeco.