4 best Opening Day performances in Seattle Mariners history

The top 2 pitching performances in Mariner's history

(#1) Randy Johnson vs Toronto Blue Jays in 1993, (8 IP, 7H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 14 K's)

Even though Felix had a laundry list of Opening Day performances that should be remembered, it is "The Big Unit's" performance in 1993 that earns the number one slot on this list. Fresh off the first of back-to-back World Series, the Blue Jays were one of the best teams in baseball. They had won 96 games in 1992 en route to a World Series, and in 1993, they would win 95 games on their way to another title.

On April 6th, 1993, Randy Johnson showed up and absolutely dominated the defending champions. Facing off against a lineup that featured two future Hall of Famers (Paul Molitor and Roberto Alomar) along with several future All-Stars, Randy Johnson worked through eight innings on 120 pitches, generating an insane 27 swing and misses. Six of the nine hitters had multiple strikeouts, including Molitor, who had two. The Mariners would go on to win 8-1, in one of the best pitching performances in Mariner's history.

#2 Felix Hernandez vs Oakland Athletics in 2007, (8 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 12 K's)

As I have said, the list of elite starts by Felix, just on Opening Day, just shows how good of a pitcher the Mariners had. Aside from a joke of letting Erik Bedard start in 2008, Felix Hernandez got the Opening Day nod every year, from 2007 through 2018. He is arguably the best pitcher in Mariners history and deciding on which Opening Day performance to highlight was difficult, but his 2007 performance sticks out to me!

Felix had a knack for coming up big, in big time moments and for a guy that never got to experience postseason baseball, Opening Day was about as good as it got. The 2006 A's were one of the best teams in baseball, finishing first in the AL West, but going on to get swept in the ALCS by the Detroit Tigers. A lot of that team didn't return in 2007, but they were a respectable team. Felix didn't care who they trotted out there, he was determined to shut them down, and that he did.

He would throw eight innings, giving up just three hits, while walking just two. He struck out a crazy 12 batters on 111 pitches, generating 17 swinging strikes. We got to see peak Felix on April 2nd, 2007; it was a game that epitomizes just how good "The King" was during his run with the M's.