Mariners Game Recap: Felix Struggles Early, Loses to Twins

The Twins made the Mariners King look less than Royal on Friday night.

The Seattle Mariners (28-19) dropped the opener of their 3-game series to the Minnesota Twins (13-34) on Friday night at Safeco Field. Paul Dean (1-1, 3.34 ERA) was the pitcher on record for the win. Felix Hernandez (4-4, 2.86 ERA) was the losing pitcher for the Mariners.

Coming into this game, Felix was one of two pitchers who had a sub-2.00 ERA against the Twins. In 17 career starts against the Twins, Felix had posted a 8-5 record with a 1.93 ERA. Tonight was a little bit of a different story. Felix got through the first two innings only giving up a solo home run to Miguel Sano. The third inning was where he got into trouble. A double, single, RBI double, RBI single, walk, RBI double and a weird Byung Ho Park ground out/force out thing at home put the Twins up 6-1. Felix did end up going up a total of six innings, giving up 8 hits, 6 runs and striking out 6.

Joel Peralta came on in relief in the 7th. After retiring Eduardo Nunez and Brian Dozier for the first two outs, Peralta gave up a solo home run to Joe Mauer. After a single to Sano, Joel got out of the inning on a fly ball out by Eduardo Escobar.

Steve Johnson pitched the 8th and 9th innings. He narrowly avoided hitting lead off batter Robbie Grossman, only to walk him a few pitches later. After that lead off walk in the 8th, Johnson retired the next five batters on strikeouts before allowing a walk to Joe Mauer in the 9th. With Mauer on, Miguel Sano popped up to end the inning.

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On the other side of the ball, making his second career start, Pat Dean efficiently shut down the hot Mariners offense. The M’s offense struck first on an opposite field Franklin Guttierrez home run in the first inning, but would not score again until the bottom of the fourth inning. Robinson Cano lead off the inning with a triple (!) and was brought home on a Dae-Ho Lee single.

Outside of those two runs, Dean was frustratingly good. He ended his night with 7 innings pitched, striking out 8 and only allowing 4 hits and two runs. Dean is one of four pitchers (Cole Hammels, Dallas Keuchel, Rich Hill) to strikeout 8+ Mariners in game this year. In the 8th inning in relief, Ryan Pressly shut down the Mariners in order. Brandon Kintzler gave up a 2-out single in the 9th to Nelson Cruz, but struck out Dae-Ho Lee to end the game.

Next: Mariners Minor-League Roundup: Who’s Hot & Who’s Not

Next up for the Seattle Mariners (28-19)  is a chance of redemption against the Minnesota Twins (13-34) on Saturday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 pm from the corner of Edgar & Dave. Wade Miley (5-2, 4.50 ERA) will get the ball for the Mariners. The Twins starter for the evening will be Phil Hughes (1-7, 5.55 ERA).