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Hernandez set to return as Mariners face Royals

Jul 11, 2008 - 10:14 AM Seattle (36-56) at Kansas City (41-52) 8:10 p.m. EDT

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- The Seattle Mariners will welcome Felix Hernandez back to their ailing pitching staff Friday when they visit the Kansas City Royals for the start of a three-game series.

Hernandez (6-5, 2.83 ERA) has been on the disabled list since June 24 with a sprained left ankle suffered while covering home plate on a wild pitch the previous day against the New York Mets. He was forced to leave that start after 4 2/3 innings with a 4-1 lead - forged when Hernandez hit a grand slam off Mets ace Johan Santana.

The 22-year-old righthander had been sharp before the injury, going 4-0 with a 1.07 ERA while holding opponents to a .177 batting average in five starts - including the outing against New York.

Hernandez's return should be a boost to a pitching staff that saw lefthander Erik Bedard placed on the DL on Thursday and righthander Miguel Batista leave his start Wednesday with a groin injury.

Owners of the worst record in the American League, the Mariners cut ties Thursday with slugger Richie Sexson before falling, 3-2, in 11 innings at Oakland. Righthander Brandon Morrow allowed two runs in the ninth to squander a lead.

The Royals are coming off a 4-1 triumph over the Chicago White Sox Thursday. Mark Teahen highlighted a four-run, eighth-inning rally with an inside-the-park home run and Joakim Soria earned his 24th save.

Kansas City will counter with rookie Luke Hochevar (5-7, 5.40). The 24-year-old righthander, who was the top overall pick in the 2006 draft, has been terrible of late, allowing 13 runs in 10 innings over his last two starts - both losses.