Felix Hernandez Continues Mastery Of Oakland Athletics, Mariners Beat A’s 3-1

Apr 5, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez (34) pitches during the second inning against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

Oakland Athletics starterDan Strailyran into one rough patch in the fifth inning. Seattle Mariners starterFelix Hernandezavoided any of those and continued his dominance of the A’s Saturday in a 3-1 win for Seattle at O.co Coliseum.

Hernandez (2-0) worked into the ninth inning while improving to 9-2 with a 2.64 ERA in 16 career starts at O.co Coliseum. Straily (0-1) worked six solid innings in his first start of the year.

Hernandez is undefeated in his last 10 starts in Oakland dating to the beginning of the 2009 season.

The A’s (2-3) might have had King Felix on the ropes in the bottom of the fourth. After Hernandez retired the first 11 hitters he faced,Jed Lowriegrounded a single up the middle and advanced to third onBrandon Moss’ double to left. Hernandez fannedYoenis Cespedesto get out of the inning unscathed.

The Mariners (4-1) rewarded him in the top of the fifth.

Kyle Seagerled off with a double to left and after a pop out, Straily (0-1) threw a wild pitch that moved Seager to third. It didn’t matter in the end asDustin Ackleyskied a homer over the out-of-town scoreboard in right-center for a 2-0 Seattle lead.

One out later,Abraham Almontegave Hernandez some insurance with a homer of his own, a bomb into the upper deck in right field, to give the M’s a 3-0 edge.

The A’s threatened again in the sixth whenCoco Crispcracked a one-out triple to right, but Hernandez came back to strike outJosh Donaldson—who is struggling to start the year at 2-for-22 with seven strikeouts so far—and induced Lowrie to pop up on the infield.

Oakland finally got to Hernandez in the ninth when Lowrie led off with his first homer of the season to right-center field. After Moss singled and Hernandez threw a wild pitch to move him to second, Cespedes flew out to right and that ended the afternoon for the formerCy Youngwinner.

New Mariners closerFernando Rodneycame on and frozeJohn Jasoon a full-count cut fastball and then gotJosh Reddickswinging to pick up his first save for his new club.

Straily worked six innings and allowed three runs on six hits and a walk, with seven strikeouts.Drew Pomeranzworked a perfect seventh, struggling closerJim Johnsonallowed a hit and struck out two in the eighth andEvan Scribnerset the M’s down 1-2-3 in the ninth.

Hernandez went 8.1 innings and allowed a run on six hits, walking one and striking out eight.

Lowrie and Moss had two hits each for the A’s.

The A’s were scheduled to start left-handerTommy Miloneto close out the homestand on Sunday, but managerBob Melvinannounced Saturday that Opening Day starterSonny Gray(0-0, 0.00 ERA) will get the ball against the Mariners,accordingto CSNBayArea.com. The Mariners will counter withErasmo Ramirez(1-0, 2.57 ERA).

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