Seattle Mariners Game Recap: King Felix Fans 12 in Win

Apr 18, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners first baseman Logan Morrison (20) and pitcher Fernando Rodney (56) watch Rodney

The Seattle Mariners (4-7) snapped their 4-game losing streak Saturday night at Safeco Field against the Texas Rangers (5-7). Felix Hernandez (2-0, 2.37 ERA) earned his second victory of the season tonight after hurling 7 innings of 1 run ball. Colby Lewis (1-1, 3.79 ERA) did a nice job of avoiding the big inning Saturday night, but suffered his first loss of the season. Fernando Rodney pitched a perfect 9th inning to pick up his third save of the year.

This game remained scoreless through the first 3 innings tonight, but the Mariners broke through in the bottom of the 4th. Robinson Cano hit a 1-out single to center field. Nelson Cruz poked a weak ground ball into right field for a single. Cano hustled around to third base on Cruz’s single. Kyle Seager walked to load the bases, and Seth Smith got the M’s on the scoreboard by hitting a sacrifice fly to right field. Seattle held a 1-0 lead after 4 innings.

The Rangers tied the game in the top of the 5th. Jake Smolinski showed off some serious acting chops tonight in Seattle. After a Rougned Odor fly out, Smolinski was apparently hit by a pitch in the hand. Mariners’ skipper Lloyd McClendon challenged the call on the field, and the replay cleared showed the ball hit the bat rather than the batter. However, the umpires went with the original call, and Smolinski was awarded first base. Smolinski made it to third base on a Leonys Martin single to center field. Texas knotted the game at 1 on an Elvis Andrus ground out to shortstop Brad Miller.

Felix Hernandez was emotional as he walked back to the dugout after the blown call led to a run in the 5th inning, but his battery mate gave the M’s the lead in the bottom of the inning. Mike Zunino has gotten off to a slow start this season, but tonight he launched a leadoff solo home run. Zunino’s blast cleared the bullpens in left field, and ended up in the second deck. The solo shot gave the Mariners a 2-1 lead after 5.

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Seattle made it 3 consecutive innings with a run scored in the bottom of the 6th. Kyle Seager led off the frame with a ringing double to right field. After Seth Smith flied out and Logan Morrison grounded out, Brad Miller laced an RBI triple down the right field line. The Rangers bleeped the relay, and Miller would have had an inside the park home run had third base coach Rich Donnelly been paying attention. Seattle led 3-1 after 6 innings.

Fernando Rodney was awful over his last 2 outings, but he came through with a stress free 9th inning on Saturday night in Seattle. The M’s held on for a 3-1 victory to even the 3-game series at 1.

The full box score can be found here.

Next: King Felix Dazzles on Bobblehead Night