Friday, March 29, 2024
37.0°F

Felix pitches well, gets rewarded

| September 6, 2010 9:00 PM

SEATTLE (AP) - Felix Hernandez had another dominant pitching effort and got just enough support to get a victory.

Hernandez scattered four hits in eight innings and the Seattle Mariners beat the Cleveland Indians 3-0 on Sunday.

He gave up four singles in his 111-pitch effort, walking one and striking out nine. At least for this start, Hernandez (11-10) had a fair measure of run support. In his 10 losses, the Mariners have scored a combined 10 runs for Hernandez while he was on the mound. That's one reason why he's on the fringe of the Cy Young Award discussion despite impressive numbers.

Hernandez is first in the majors in strikeouts (209), first in league in innings (219), second in the league in ERA (2.30), but tied for 41st in wins. He has the second worst run support in the league.

"I've been on teams where's it's been like that for a guy for maybe 10, 12 starts but not a complete season," Branyan said. "It's unfortunate for him for his wins and losses, but you can't take away the other numbers, his ERA, his strikeout, innings pitched. He has been incredible this year."

"Sometimes I think it's coincidence more than anything else and sometimes there might be a feeling of you may not have to score very many because you know how good the guy is on the mound," Seattle manager Daren Brown said.

Even when Hernandez isn't on the mound, the last-place Mariners are struggling to score runs. They have scored the fewest runs by far in baseball and have put up three runs or fewer over the past 10 games. It's the second longest such streak in club history. They went 12 games from June 10-22, 1988.

"What are you going to do? He's the best pitcher in the big leagues today," the Indians' Shin-Soo Choo said.

David Aardsma worked the ninth to pick up his 28th save in 33 opportunities. Russell Branyan drove in a pair of runs with a solo home run in the sixth, his 23rd, and a RBI double in the eighth.

Seattle center fielder Franklin Gutierrez did not start for the second straight game because of a stomach ailment. He was available to pinch hit.