Mariners Analysis: Felix Hernandez’s Top 5 Performances

#3 – Opening Day Gem against the A’s – April 2, 2007

Coming into the 2007 season, Hernandez had already established himself as one of the hardest throwing pitchers in the game who also had had the ability to paint the corners at will. Although he did not have the magic touch every game in his sophomore year, Felix wasn’t going to let his third season get off to a bad start.

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It was Opening Day at Safeco Field and Hernandez was making the start facing the Mariners’ division rivals, the Oakland Athletics. Felix had already made history, becoming the youngest pitcher since Dwight Gooden in 1985 to start on Opening Day, but he was about to write another page in the record books by the end of the night.

Felix had a brilliant, balanced outing that saw him fan 12 batters, which Elias Sports Bureau said was the “majors’ first Opening Day pitcher to strike out at least 12 batters without allowing a run since Bob Gibson did it for the Cardinals in 1967”; that is quite an achievement. Hernandez weaved his way through 8 innings of shutout ball, only allowing 4 hits. This was Felix’s 27th win of his young career and after it was all said and done, his punch out total was now up to 265.

Next: The King K's A Career High Against Tampa Rays