Out of Right Field: M’s start the right way, despite a few bobbles

Unless you haven’t been paying attention, you know Felix Hernandez was pitching his 10th consecutive opening day start last night at Safeco Field. You also probably know it was the 11th time he had started a season on the bump for the Mariners.

But what you might not have known is Hernandez has won, counting last night’s 2-1 victory over Cleveland, all but two of those starts.

You may not have remembered that because the M’s have made you forget them with their play over the following six months.

What we are getting at here is somewhat akin to those stock-trading commercials on TV: first-day results aren’t indicative of future success.

• As Dave Nichols outlines in his “Out of Right Field” feature, written before last night’s game, the M’s organization really didn’t do all it could have to shore up the pitching staff. Or build depth to the bench.

It’s omissions like that which really hurt as the 162-game season slogs on. But there were little flaws that appeared last night that might be even more important:

– Edwin Diaz is only 24 years old and in his third major league season. He still gets over-amped in big situations, which isn’t ideal for a major league closer. Most of the time, though, Diaz’s wonderful abilities allow him to overcome playing loose with the strike zone.

Like he was last night. Two hit batters, a whole bunch of unnecessary pitches, the tying run at third, go-ahead run at second, all came to nothing because Diaz overpowered the Indians when he needed to. Still, such tightrope walking (think Fernando Rodney) isn’t good for anyone’s blood pressure.

– Mike Zunino didn’t play last night. He felt soreness in his right side after batting practice Wednesday. And he’s one of the younger Mariners. Mike Marjama had to catch. His first at bat last night? That was his 10th in the big leagues. Depth isn’t the Mariners’ strong suit.

Either is youth. Yes, Nelson Cruz hit a Corey Kluber pitch a long, long way in his first at bat, but in his second the 37-year-old designated hitter hit a ground ball and slowly made his way to first, being careful to not aggravate a leg injury that’s bothered him this spring. You know, before the wear-and-tear of the season.

The M’s are going to need some injury luck. And that’s worth counting on.

– The best thing the Mariners did last night? The pregame tribute to Indians’ manager Terry Francona’s father, Tito, who died recently.

The younger Francona could be seen tearing up and his voice broke a bit in a postgame interview in which he called the surprising tribute to his father, a 15-year major league veteran, “classy.”

Well done.