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Seattle Mariners

Mariners Log: M’s waste gem by Felix Hernandez in loss to Yankees

Brett Gardner of the Yankees and Mariners catcher Mike Zunino watch Gardner's home run during the sixth inning. (Elaine Thompson / Associated Press)
By Dave Nichols daven@spokesman.com(509) 459-5441

2-FOR-14 PERFORMANCE WITH RISP DOOMS M’S

What happened: Felix Hernandez looked like The King of old, recording nine strikeouts over seven innings, but the offense wasted seemingly endless opportunities and the Seattle Mariners lost to the New York Yankees – the team they trail for the second wildcard spot – 4-1 on Thursday at Safeco Field.

Hernandez made one mistake all night – an 89 mph four-seam fastball that got too much of the plate to Brett Gardner, who lined it over the wall in right-center for his 16th home run of the season in the sixth inning.

The Yankees managed just two more hits, plus two walks, off Hernandez.

Robinson Cano went 3 for five with an RBI, and Danny Valencia picked up a pair of hits.

The Yankees picked up insurance runs in the eight and ninth innings off James Pazos and Max Povse.

Line Outs

  • Felix was very sharp in a 1-2-3 first inning, getting Brett Gardner on a comebacker, Gary Sanchez on a liner to third and freezing Home Run Derby winner Aaron Judge with a slider on the outside corner.
  • In the bottom, Ben Gamel doubled with one out, but strayed off base on a comebacker from Robinson Cano and was tagged out in a rundown. Nelson Cruz singled to put two on with two down, but Kyle Seager struck out.
  • Hernandez picked up two more strikeouts in the second, including the recently-acquired Todd Frazier in his first at-bat with the Yankees.
  • In the fourth, Judge walked on a curveball that just missed the inside corner, then was erased on a double-play ball from Matt Holliday on a play at first which was originally ruled safe, but overturned upon replay review.
  • The M’s put runners on the corners with no outs, then loaded the bass with two down in the bottom half, but came up empty. The Mariners stranded seven through four innings.
  • Center fielder Jarrod Dyson flashed the leather in the fifth. Leadoff hitter Didi Gregorius smacked a liner to left center, but Dyson raced and made a tremendous backhanded running grab to rob Gregorius of extra bases.
  • The Yankees picked up their second hit of the game in the sixth. Unfortunately for Felix and the M’s, it came in the form of Gardner’s 16th home run of the season, a line drive to right-center on a 89 mph four-seam fastball.
  • Hernandez gave up a two-out double to Gregorius in the seventh but got Frazier to pop out to end the inning.
  • M’s got into trouble in the eighth with James Pazos on the hill. With one down, Chase Headley singled on a liner off the end of a leaping Cano’s glove. Then Gardner’s routine grounder to short clanged off Jean Segura’s glove.
  • Tony Zych entered and walked Gary Sanchez, then Judge lined a broken-bat single to short right that plated two runs. Zych then coaxed a double-play ball from Holliday to end the inning.
  • Dellin Betances took over for the Yankees in the bottom half. He hit Seager and Valencia bounced one through the open right side to put two on with one down. Mitch Haniger bounced one back to Betances, but his throw to second was lousy and the Yankees only picked up the forceout, confirmed by replay after a bobble by Starlin Castro on the transfer.
  • It didn’t matter. Betances recovered to strike out Dyson to end the potential rally. The M’s stranded 11 through eight.
  • The Yankees added two more in the ninth off Max Povse. Gregorius singled with one out, went to second on a single by Frazier, and both later scored on a two-out throwing error by Cano.
  • The M’s picked up a cosmetic run against Aroldis Chapman in the ninth as Cano doubled home pinch-runner Guillermo Heredia.

The Takeaway

Felix Hernandez looked like The King of old in this one, albeit a few mph slower, but the lack of offensive contribution (2 for 14 with runners in scoring position) made him the unwitting victim in this one. Still, two of Hernandez’ last three starts have been gems and the hitting has been there more often than not this season. This was a quality Yankees batting order that Felix handled well.

Tweet of the Day

Players of the Game

Hero: Felix Hernandez. If this is how he pitches down the stretch the M’s don’t need to worry. About him, anyway.

Goat: Jarrod Dyson. Made a great defensive play, but went 0 for 4 with a K and stranded five.

Next Game

New York Yankees (49-45) at Seattle Mariners (48-49) on Friday at 7:10 p.m. at Safeco Field. Andrew Moore (1-1, 5.25) hosts C.C. Sabathia (8-3, 3.54).