Félix Hernández's perfect game moved his throne to the top of the baseball world

Life comes at you fast, something which the Mariners and their fans can strongly attest to after Tuesday night's embarrassing 22-0 loss in Milwaukee versus the Brewers. However, life also goes by fast, and a prime example came this past Saturday, with it marking 14 years since Félix Hernández's perfect game.

You can contend that at certain points over the past few seasons, Logan Gilbert, George Kirby and Bryan Woo have played like the Mariners' staff ace. However, none of them have ever been able to sustain this level, in stark contrast to what Hernández did. And on a sunny Wednesday afternoon on Aug. 15 in 2012 at the then-Safeco Field, 'King Félix' showed the ultimate a staff ace can do, living up to his nickname with -- quite literally -- a perfect performance.

The Mariners were well into a playoff drought which would last 20 seasons. This particular year, they entered Wednesday's series finale versus the Rays with a 54-64 record and there was little for the M's fanbase to cheer about, with the exception of Hernández. He was the one positive constant throughout the franchise's ongoing struggles, and was just two years removed from his thoroughly-deserved AL Cy Young Award.

It was clear early on that Hernández was cooking with his full arsenal of pitches, including the fastball, slider, changeup and curveball. However, no one could have anticipated what was to come. All the fans did know was that the six-time All-Star needed to be at his best, because -- as happened far too often during his tenure in Seattle -- he was getting little run support.

A day when run support was at an absolute premium for Félix Hernández

That run support on this day would amount to exactly one score, courtesy of a Jesus Montero single in the bottom of the third to bring home Brendan Ryan. In fairness, Rays stater Jeremy Hellickson was tremendous in limiting the Mariners lineup to five hits and one walk over seven innings. On any other occasion this usually would have been enough to get the win, but not on this day. Not against Hernández.

As the game progressed, everyone inside the building could sense something special was brewing. And even though one of the golden rules of baseball is for players, managers and media not to mention it, plenty within the crowd of 21,889 were discussing the potential for a no-hitter. Through six innings, Hernández was thinking about even more than producing the fourth no-hitter in franchise history.

Into the bottom of the seventh, Hernández had to persevere through a bush league argument by Joe Maddon. The Rays manager emerged from the dugout to argue a strike call on Matt Joyce and was subsequently ejected from the game. If part of Maddon's thinking was to somehow rattle Hernández then it failed, instead only helping reinforce his steely determination to do something never achieved before in Mariners history.

The two-time AL ERA leader was in an absolute zone, allowing just five balls out of the infield on the day. He would end up with a career-high 26 whiffs, with at least five whiffs on four different pitches, to encapsulate just how nasty he was. As the finishing line came closer he only grew stronger and more determined, with five of his 12 strikeouts coming in the final two innings.

On this occasion, even 'King Félix' didn't do justice to what he achieved

When the defining moment of the game came in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, everyone inside the ballpark was standing to cheer him on. And when Hernández caught third baseman Sean Rodríguez looking to seal the 23rd perfect game in Major League history, he struck his familiar celebration pose. For once, even 'King Félix' didn't seem like a worthy moniker:

Two days afterwards, Hernández admitted he was still buzzing. Things had also understandably become hectic, as he was inundated with calls and messages from family and friends, as well as media requests. As per MLB.com, he said: "I still can't believe it. It's pretty special. And to do it here at Safeco Field in front of these guys? Even more special."

As much as Hernández 'only' finished fourth in AL Young voting come the end of 2012, at one point in the season Mariners' fans were witness to peak Felix. The outing versus the Rays was part of a 14-game run in which he had a 1.40 ERA, which included five complete game shutouts.

It will remain one of the biggest disappointments and 'What if?' scenarios, that Hernández never got to experience even one playoff game during his time with the Mariners. However, for one day at least, his throne ascended to the top of the baseball world. We can only hope that one day he also ascends to the Hall of Fame, because as far as we're concerned it will be a much-deserved outcome for arguably the best pitcher in franchise history.

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