Blue Jays 3 - 6 Mariners
Final
  for this game

Young hopes to continue stellar season vs. Blue Jays

Aug 12, 2014 - 3:02 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Chris Young eyes a third straight winning decision on Tuesday when the Seattle Mariners play the middle test of their three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays at Safeco Field.

Young has been a pleasant surprise for the Mariners, going 10-6 with a 3.27 ERA after not pitching in the majors last season. Young, of course, has been troubled by injuries for the better part of the past seven seasons and last year spent some time in the Washington Nationals minor league system before shutting it down to have surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome.

"He's been tremendous," said manager Lloyd McClendon. "I've said it time and time again, he's been a godsend to this rotation. Not only has he given us quality innings, he's given a nice veteran presence. He's never going to panic in any situation and today was no different. He didn't have his best stuff, but he battled and he got a win."

With a win over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday the 35-year-old right-hander reached double-digit wins in a season for the first time since going 11-5 with San Diego back in 2006.

His 134 2/3 innings pitched this season are also his most since 2007 when he was an All-Star for the Padres.

"Just taking the ball, that was my goal coming in, just to take the ball every fifth day and go out and compete and give the team a chance to win," Young said. "Thus far, it's been great. It's been an unbelievable season in that regard, relative to where I've been and the frustrating years I've had the last four or five. To be back and be able to take the ball every fifth day and compete and play a game that I love, it's just been more than I can ask for."

Young has faced the Blue Jays twice and is 1-0 against them, despite surrendering eight runs in 9 2/3 innings against them.

In Monday's opener Felix Hernandez pitched at least seven innings and allowed two or fewer runs for a major league record 16th straight time and the Mariners also gave him plenty of run support.

Robinson Cano highlighted a seven-run sixth inning with a homer and an RBI double, as Seattle blasted Toronto, 11-1.

Hernandez (13-3) allowed three hits, including a home run to Jose Bautista in the fourth inning. Hernandez had eight strikeouts. He leads the American League with a 1.95 ERA.

"I'm running out of words for Felix," McClendon said. "Tonight he stepped up and gave us a great performance."

Mike Zunino and Brad Miller had RBI triples during the huge inning, as the Mariners posted their sixth win in seven games.

Drew Hutchison (8-10) gave up seven hits and six runs over 5 2/3 innings. Brad Mills was torched for three hits and five runs over the ensuing 2 1/3 frames, as the Blue Jays suffered their seventh loss in 10 contests.

On Tuesday, Toronto will hand the ball to lefty J.A. Happ, who is 8-6 with a 4.09 ERA. Happ lost to Baltimore on Thursday, but it was through no fault of his own, as he allowed two runs, five hits and struck out a career-high 12 over eight innings of a 2-1 loss.

Happ has a 1.71 ERA since the All-Star break, but is just 1-1 in those four starts.

Toronto split six matchups with the Mariners last season.






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