(Sports Network) - There haven't been many teams to give Felix Hernandez
trouble this season. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, though, have been one
of them. On Saturday, the Angels try to hand the Seattle ace his first loss in
almost three months as they continue a three-game set at Safeco Field.
Hernandez is 9-0 with a 1.40 ERA, 100 strikeouts and 17 walks in 14 starts
since losing to San Diego on June 12. He has followed up his perfect game with
two more spectacular efforts, including a five-hit shutout on Monday in
Minnesota that ran his record to 13-5 on the year, while lowering his ERA to
2.43.
He leads the American League in ERA, shutouts (five) and innings pitched (196
2/3).
"I've been consistent the last two months," said Hernandez, who will be trying
to win four straight starts since a five-game run Sept. 13-Oct. 4, 2009. "I've
been trying to throw strikes, been trying to get ahead of every hitter and mix
all my pitches."
However, the Angels have given the 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner some problems
this season. Hernandez is 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA in two starts against them. He
is 6-10 lifetime against them with a 3.85 ERA in 27 starts.
"We've seen a lot of him," Angels skipper Mike Scioscia said. "When you see a
pitcher more, and not that it makes it any easier hitting a guy with his
stuff, but you certainly get an idea about what some of his tendencies are and
it might help you lay off a pitch once in a while or do something with a
pitch. He's tough, man. He's tough. Sometimes there's no rhyme or reason why
you hit a guy. But we've been fortunate to have held our own against him."
Scioscia's team received a terrific pitching performance of their own in
Friday's opener, as Dan Haren allowed an unearned run over seven strong
innings to help the Angels get past Seattle, 9-1.
Haren (9-10) scattered five hits and struck out three without walking a batter
to snap a four-start winless skid.
"When he got the lead, he just pounded the zone, made pitches and seven strong
innings is great to see," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of his starter.
Kendrys Morales clubbed a three-homer and knocked in four overall, Bobby
Wilson smacked a two-run shot, and Torii Hunter registered four hits, an RBI
and a run scored for the Angels, who won their fourth straight contest.
Kevin Millwood (4-12) was charged for five runs -- four earned -- on nine hits
and four walks over five frames.
John Jaso knocked in the lone run for Seattle, which had an eight-game home
winning streak stopped and fell for only the second time in 17 home contests.
"We just didn't have a good day as a ball club...just one of those days," said
Mariners manager Eric Wedge. "You play this many games, every now and again
you're going to have a tough one and we just didn't have it today."
Getting the call for the Angels on Saturday will be righty Ervin Santana, who
lost for the first time in six starts on Sunday in Detroit. The Tigers reached
him for four runs and five hits in seven innings of that one, dropping Santana
to 7-11 to go along with a 5.45 ERA.
Santana is 11-7 in 28 starts versus the Mariners with a 3.99 ERA.
Anaheim has won six in a row at Seattle.
The Sports Network