While “King” Felix Hernandez only needed two runs to win Saturday night, the Seattle Mariners ended up handing him five including a two-run homer by Ken Griffey Jr.
It started with a Franklin Gutierrez double to bring in Jose Lopez in the top of the second inning for the 1-0 lead.
The following inning featured an RBI triple by Russell Branyan and then a two-run blast by Griffey to bring the game to 4-0.
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The home-run was Griffey's 620th.
The Los Angeles Dodgers ended the inning with their only run of the game off a rare error by eight-time Gold-Glove winner Ichiro Suzuki.
From then on Felix Hernandez was the remaining excitement of the game, allowing only four hits while fanning nine. But Branyan then stole the excitement with a solo home run, his 19th of the season.
Hernandez’s earned run average lowered to 2.54. His maturity may be close to reaching its peak as he has allowed only five earned runs in his last 53 innings.
M’s closer, David Aardsma, ended the game with two strikeouts in one inning of relief.
WP: Felix Hernandez (8-3)
LP: Eric Milton (2-1)
Next game:
LHP Garret Olson (2-2; 4.95 ERA) vs. RHP Hiroki Kuroda (2-3; 3.44 ERA)
1:10 PM/PT
TV: FSN
Radio: 710 ESPN
Reach Ben J. Brown at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
