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Hernandez takes his turn vs. Yanks in halting M's epic slide

Jul 27, 2011 - 2:33 PM (Sports Network) - Felix Hernandez takes a shot at ending the Seattle Mariners' franchise worst losing streak this afternoon when they wrap up a three-game set against the New York Yankees.

Unfortunately, though, the Mariners have lost 15 of their last 19 at the Bronx.

Seattle's woes continued on Tuesday, as CC Sabathia carried a perfect game into the seventh inning, striking out a career-high 14 batters, and David Robertson got him out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth after Sabathia had walked the first three batters.

Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira belted solo homers and the Yankees won the game, 4-1, extending Seattle's losing streak to 17 games.

Sabathia (15-5) has rarely looked better than he did through the first seven innings of this one. He struck out seven batters in a row during one stretch -- a lights-out streak that was halted by a 30-minute rain delay in the top of the sixth.

He returned and got three straight outs before Brendan Ryan broke up the perfect game with a line-drive single into left-center field with one out in the seventh.

"I just wanted to make sure I was absolutely ready to hit something if it was going to be hittable. Thankfully it worked out," Ryan said about breaking up Sabathia's perfect game.

Sabathia threw 71 strikes in 102 pitches during his seven-plus innings and also lasted through a 14-minute rain delay that popped up suddenly. He threw during the 30-minute stoppage, but not during the shorter one, which Girardi said he treated like a long inning.

The Yankees manager said "you'll never know" when he was asked if the initial rain delay hurt Sabathia's chances to pitch a perfect game.

"It could have. He was so sharp before the rain delay and I thought his slider got a little bigger after it," said Girardi. "You can't fight Mother Nature."

Ryan had the only hit of the game for the Mariners, who have rarely looked so bad -- even during a losing streak that has lasted three weeks. They struck out 18 times in the game.

Robertson fanned two batters after Sabathia walked the bases loaded in the eighth, but also allowed a run that was charged to Sabathia on a ground out. Mariano Rivera fanned two more in the ninth for his 26th save.

Sabathia, who entered the game as the majors' only 14-game winner, also became the first to 15 as he won for the eighth time in nine starts.

The Yankees have captured the first two games of this three-game series and three in a row overall.

Mariners starter Doug Fister (3-12) gave up all three runs and pitched seven innings, falling to 0-7 in his last 10 starts. He gave up seven hits and a walk, striking out five.

The losing streak is the longest in the majors since Kansas City dropped 19 in a row in 2005.

Hernandez gets a chance to halt the slide today, as he tries for his first win in six starts. Hernandez lost his second straight start and third consecutive decision on Friday in Boston, as he allowed six runs and 11 hits in 6 1/3 innings.

The loss dropped the American League's defending Cy Young Award winner to 8-9 on the year, while raising his ERA to 3.47.

Hernandez did not get a decision against the Yankees earlier in the year, but is 5-3 lifetime against them with a 2.98 ERA.

New York, meanwhile, will counter with righty Phil Hughes, who was awful on Friday against Oakland. Spotted a huge lead Hughes was unable to get out of the fifth inning and did not get a decision in the 17-7 win. He was charged with seven runs over 4 1/3 innings.

He is 1-2 on the year with a 9.47 ERA.

The Mariners took two of three from the Yankees in Seattle earlier in the season.

New York is a major league best 29-6 in day games this season.