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SEATTLE -- Even in the middle of his best outing this season and coming within one out of his first complete game since August 2012, Felix Hernandez took notice of the stadium radar gun flashing numbers in the mid-90s when his fastball cracked the glove. George Iloka Bengals Jersey . "Ive still got it," Seattles ace said with a sly grin. Riding that fastball carrying a little more zip, Hernandez took a shutout bid into the ninth inning as the Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-1 on Wednesday night. On the verge of a brilliant shutout and first complete game since Aug. 27, 2012 against Minnesota, Hernandez couldnt get the 27th out. He gave up a two-out single to Mike Trout and an RBI double to Albert Pujols that took away the shutout and the complete game and caused Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon to turn to his closer. Still, the effort by Hernandez (7-1) continued a dominant run. He won his fourth consecutive start and became the seventh pitcher in Mariners history with seven victories before June 1. In those last four starts, Hernandez has allowed eight earned runs in 31 1-3 innings with 30 strikeouts. He now has a 57-7 record in his career when pitching at least eight innings. "I think were all getting accustomed to how hes been throwing. Hes just coming out and establishing the fastball early and going to his off speed pitches when he needs to," Seattle catcher Mike Zunino said. Providing the offence behind Hernandezs gem was Zunino, who homered and drove in all of Seattles runs. He gave the Mariners the lead with a two-out, two-run single in the second and led off the eighth with a home run off C.J. Wilson (6-4). Wilson was nearly the equal of Hernandez. Also trying to get his seventh win, Wilson allowed just five hits and struck out five before getting lifted with two outs in the eighth. Five of Zuninos seven homers this season have come in Hernandez starts. But he was more pleased with the single in the second inning that scored Justin Smoak and Kyle Seager. "When you can do that with two outs and put the team on the board early and see some pitches, that was the biggest thing for me and gave you confidence as the game went on," Zunino said. Hernandez cruised through the eighth, still hitting the mid-90s mph on the stadium radar gun and closed the inning striking out Hank Conger. There was very little discussion with McClendon and Hernandez jogged from the dugout to start the ninth to a big ovation having allowed just two hits. He struck out Collin Cowgill swinging and retired Howie Kendrick on a fly ball. But Trout and Pujols wouldnt let Hernandez finish it off. He struck out nine and walked two. Closer Fernando Rodney entered and got David Freese to line out for his 13th save of the season. "He was strong. He felt great. Its just tough there, you have to weigh the players but also what is good for the team," McClendon said. "I had my closer up and he was ready to go so we thought it was the best matchup." Hernandez struck out five of the first nine batters by changing up his game plan. He relied more on his fastball early and went to off speed pitches later in the game. Kendrick ended any thoughts of another special night from Hernandez with a solid single leading off the fourth. Trout then walked, but Hernandez skirted the jam thanks to Zunino throwing out Kendrick trying to steal third and Freeses strikeout. The only other hit before the ninth was Erick Aybars single in the fifth. "We really didnt get a chance to pressure him much and the couple of times we did we couldnt get the runs across," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. NOTES: Matt Shoemaker will start Thursdays series finale for the Angels. He was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake after LHP Sean Burnett tore a ligament in his pitching elbow in Tuesdays game. LHP Wade LeBlanc, the original starter, will now work out of the bullpen. ... Seattle RHP Taijuan Walker (shoulder) made his first rehab start at Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday night and threw three innings, giving up five hits, four earned runs and striking out three. He threw 61 pitches. White Brandon Tate Womens Elite Jersey . Gretzky was asked if he believes Montreal Canadiens defenceman PK Subban should be on Canadas blueline in February at the Sochi Olympics. "Im not going to get in the middle of that controversy because Stevie Yzerman obviously knows what hes doing, he won a gold medal in 2010," said Gretzky. Reggie Nelson ., native Andrew Wiggins wasnt around a year ago for one of the worst nights in Kansas basketball history.PHILADELPHIA -- Ryan Kesler needed a lucky bounce and an empty net for the easiest Vancouver goal of the season. Its the kind of break a team needs sometimes to win on the road. And just the latest blunder that has Philadelphia mired at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Kesler followed the empty-netter with the second of his two goals with 2:25 left in the third period to lead the Vancouver Canucks to a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night. The Canucks won for the second time this season when trailing after two periods. "You want to get those under your belt early and establish yourself as a resilient group," Kesler said. "We did that again tonight." Chris Higgins also scored for Vancouver and Roberto Luongo made the win stand with 20 saves. Tye McGinn scored both goals for the Flyers, who dropped to 1-6. The Flyers are the only team in the NHL that has yet to score at least three goals in a game this season. Higgins and Kesler and each scored in the third period to rally Vancouver. The Flyers fell to 1-3 under coach Craig Berube. "Were kind of sitting back and waiting for something bad to happen," Berube said. It did in the third. Higgins fired a shot off Steve Mason and Kesler pounced to score past the sprawled Flyers goalie for the winner. The Canucks tied it 2-2 early in the third when Henrik Sedin fed Higgins for a one-timer and his first goal of the season. Each team struggled to generate offence. The Canucks failed to crack 20 shots until midway through the third and the Flyers didnt attempt their 20th until the final minutes. The Flyers took only one shot on two power-play attempts, and their special teams unit ranks among the worst in the league. "We are scared to make something happen on the ice," Flyers forward Jakub Voracek. Armed with one of the lowest-scoring offences in the NHL, the Flyers almost broke through early in the first, but Claude Girouxs shot rang off the post. Giroux, once one of the best players in the game, has yet to score this season, though he did pick up his second assist on McGinns second goal. A.J. Green Mens Elite Jersey Pro Bowl. "We are getting better every game, thats how we all look at it. Its a fact," Giroux said. "If anybody knows anything about hockey, theyll know we played a good game tonight. We played our best game, and its a good thing coming right now." McGinn has been impressive since the Flyers brought him up last week. With forwards Scott Hartnell and Vinny Lecavalier out with injuries, the Flyers turned to McGinn and pressed him into service on Girouxs line. He scored against Detroit in his first game back, then showed against Vancouver that he has a knack for positioning himself in the right place at the right time. McGinn backhanded a rebound midway through the first for a 1-0 lead. Philadelphias lead lasted all of 10 seconds. Mason skated behind the net and tried to clear the puck, but it took a funky carom past him and right to a streaking Kesler, who pounded the puck into the empty net for the easy, tying goal. "I didnt see it until it was in the blue paint," he said. "Its just one of those bounces." Mason stopped 22 shots -- just not the one he never saw coming. "Bad bounces happen," he said. "Its just how you respond, and I thought for the most part, we played a pretty good game." McGinn made it 2-1 only 2:10 into the second when he finished off a rush with a poke past Luongo for his third goal of the season. McGinn has a chance to stick around with Hartnell out another two to four weeks with an undisclosed injury. By the time Hartnell and Lecavalier return, the Flyers season could be unsalvageable. Giroux said its too early to give up on the season. "Well start winning games here soon, and when we will, well be back in the playoff race," he said. NOTES: Several Flyers sported pink tape as part of "Hockey Fights Cancer" night. ... The Canucks opened a seven-game road trip, which ends Oct. 25 in St. Louis. ... Sedin scored his 800th career point. ... Vancouver is 3-0 when it allows three goals or less. ... Vancouver won 20 of 35 faceoffs. ' ' ' |
