Athletics 2 - 4 Mariners
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King Felix takes on A's at Safeco Field

Aug 2, 2011 - 3:02 PM

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(Sports Network) - Felix Hernandez tries to pitch the Seattle Mariners to consecutive wins for the first time in almost a month this evening when they resume a three-game set with the Oakland Athletics at Safeco Field.

Hernandez had perhaps the most significant win of his career on Wednesday when he put the brakes on the Mariners' franchise-worst 17-game losing streak, beating the New York Yankees and holding them to a run and five hits over seven innings.

"As he continues throughout his career and gets deeper into his career, that's going to be part of it," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. "He's already done a tremendous job for a young man with experience, taking on a leadership role. That's going to continue for him and ultimately even more so as he gets a little older and these kids keep getting younger as they come up."

The talented right-hander has not been as effective as his AL Cy Young Award- winning campaign from a year ago, but is 9-9 with a 3.38 ERA.

Hernandez has faced the A's 20 times and is 11-4 with a 2.53 ERA.

The Mariners started this series off on the right foot on Monday, as Dustin Ackley hit a bases-loaded triple to highlight a five-run second inning that catapulted Seattle to an 8-4 win.

Brendan Ryan and Miguel Olivo each had three hits and knocked in a run for Seattle, which got 6 2/3 quality innings from rookie Blake Beavan (2-2) to win for the third time in five games.

Trevor Cahill (9-10) was tagged with seven runs on 12 hits in four-plus innings for the A's, who had taken two of three from the Twins over the weekend.

"It just didn't end up being a great game for us all the way around," said A's interim manager Bob Melvin. "We had the bases loaded, nobody out and then we don't score, that took a little momentum away from us and we just didn't play real crisply after that."

More than the loss, the A's revealed that shortstop Cliff Pennington was diagnosed with Bell's palsy, a form of facial paralysis resulting from a dysfunctional nerve.

He carried a 15-game hitting streak into the contest but was pulled in the sixth inning, having gone 0-for-2. Pennington is set to start medication and is listed as day-to-day.

Heading to the hill for the A's tonight will be righty Rich Harden, who was almost dealt by Sunday's non-waiver trade deadline. Harden was believed to be heading to Boston, but the Red Sox pulled out of the deal at the last second because of a medical issue.

Harden is 2-1 with a 4.30 ERA in five starts this season. He was on the disabled list most of the season due to a strained right shoulder.

In 12 games (nine starts) against the Mariners Harden has posted a 5-2 mark to go along with a 2.41 ERA.

Seattle has won seven of its 11 matchups with the A's.






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