Felix Hernandez, who is 6-0, 2.18 ERA in his last 11 outings, has had considerable success pitching at Fenway Park. In six career starts, he’s 3-1 with a 2.53 ERA.
Boston’s Dustin Pedroia, who recently agreed to a new, eight-year contract worth $110 million, is hitting .296 with a .784 OPS. Pedroia had a two-run homer in Boston’s 5-4, 15-inning win Wednesday night. / Wiki Commons
GAME: Mariners (50-57, 3rd, AL West, -12.5 GB) at Red Sox (65-44, 1st, AL East, +0.5 GA). GAME #: 108. SERIES: 3rd of 3 games. MEETING: 7th (Red Sox lead 5-1). WHEN: Thursday, 4:10 p.m., Fenway Park. STREAKS: Mariners L 2; Red Sox W 2. TV: Root Sports. RADIO: ESPN 710, Mariners Radio Network
Felix Hernandez came away with a no-decision in his last outing (July 26 vs. Minnesota) when he allowed the tying run to score in the top of the ninth. He also came away with 10 or more strikeouts (11) with no walks for the seventh time in his career. Hernandez’s effort marked the first nine-inning no-decision with one or fewer runs allowed and 11 or more strikeouts by a Seattle starter since Randy Johnson Sept. 16, 1992.
The fun number here is seven career games, according to baseball reference.com, with 10 or more strikeouts and no walks. The greatest disparity occurred May 22, 2011 vs. San Diego when Hernandez had 13 strikeouts and no walks. He’s twice had 12 strikeouts and no walks, most recently April 17 of this year against the Detroit Tigers.
The other great pitcher in Mariners history, Johnson (1989-98), produced eight games of 10 or more strikeouts and zero walks during the Seattle portion of his career, the most remarkable of those outings June 24, 1997 against Oakland in the Kingdome. That night, Johnson fanned 19 Athletics without a walk — and lost 4-1.
Boston, a 5-4, 15-inning victor Wednesday, will be a tough place for Hernandez to post an eighth 10-K, 0-BB game to tie Johnson, But King Felix has a decent ledger at Fenway Park, where the Mariners and Red Sox conclude their series Thursday night. In six career starts, Hernandez is 3-1, 2.53, especially impressive given Boston’s hitting prowess at Fenway.
Hernandez, 6-0, 2.18 ERA in last 11 outings, squares off against Ryan Dempster, who is in his 16th season but has only five appearances against Seattle. A closer look:
THURSDAY’S PROBABLES
MARINERS: RHP Felix Hernandez (11-4, 2.34 ERA, 1.04)
The 27-year-old Hernandez, in his ninth major league season, all with Seattle, will make his 23rd start and second against the Red Sox. Hernandez, the AL leader in ERA (2.34), came away with a tough-luck no-decision in his last start, but has won six consecutive decisions without a loss since May 25 vs. Texas. In addition to leading the AL in ERA, Hernandez tops the circuit in innings pitched at 153.2.
RED SOX: RHP Ryan Dempster (6-8, 4.24 ERA, 1.45 WHIP)
The 36-year-old Dempster, a British Columbia native in his 16th major league season and first with Boston, will make his 22nd start and second against the Mariners. The veteran Dempster won his most recent start, holding the Orioles to six hits and two runs over 5.1 innings. Opponents are hitting .254 against Dempster, who is 4-6 with a 4.14 ERA at Fenway this season.
MARINERS STATS / NOTES
UPCOMING PROBABLES
Date | Day | Opp. | Probable Pitchers |
---|---|---|---|
8/1 | Thr | at Bos | RHP Felix Hernandez (11-4) vs. RHP Ryan Dempster (6-8) |
8/2 | Fri | at Bal | RHP Aaron Harang (5-9) vs. Scott Feldman (2-2) |
8/3 | Sat | at Bal | RHP Erasmo Ramirez (2-0) vs. RHP Jason Hammel (7-8) |
8/4 | Sun | at Bal | LHP Joe Saunders (9-10) vs. LHP Wei-Yin Chen (6-3) |
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