King Felix KO’s 10, Mariners win road game at home
SEATTLE – With the Kings Court fans chanting, “Oh-oh-Olivo,” Miguel Olivo blasted a 2-run home run to left field to put an exclamation point on a 5-1 win over the Florida Marlins Friday night.
During Felix Hernandez outings, Section 120 at Safeco Field in the left field seating becomes “Kings Court” where fans wear golden foam crowns and yellow T-shirts that read KING. On Friday, the fans brought tons of energy to the crowd and seemed to energize the Mariners players in key moments. The chants and enthusiasm from that section created a similar atmosphere that has made Sounders fans renowned as the most passionate team supporters.
The Mariners finally found some offense and gave King Felix some much needed run support. Franklin Gutierrez broke a tie with a 2-run single with the bases loaded to give the Mariners a 3-1 lead in a three run seventh inning. Olivo’s home run in the ninth was icing on the cake for a team ranked near the bottom of the league in runs scored.
Hernandez picked up his eighth win of the season to lead the team, improving his record to 8-6. He was electric after struggling early, striking out 10 batters and limiting the Marlins offense to just two hits.
Hanley Ramirez scored the first run of the game for the Marlins with two outs in the fourth inning. Hernandez struck out John Buck but the ball got away from Olivo allowing Ramirez to score from third.
Due to conflicting schedules in Florida thanks to a U2 concert, the Marlins were the home team despite the game played in Seattle. National league rules applied, giving Northwest fans the rare opportunity to watch their pitchers bat in an American League ballpark.
Hernandez wanted to be the first Mariners pitcher to get a hit at home and he did. In fact, his single in the third was the only hit for Seattle until the seventh inning.
Mariners ended a 29-inning scoreless streak when they broke through in the seventh inning.
After a Brandon Ryan walk, Adam Kennedy singled to put runners on first and third for the Mariners first threat of the game against Marlins pitcher Ricky Nolasco. Justin Smoak grounded into a fielder’s choice, catching Ryan between third and home plate. The rundown lasted long enough to advance the runners to second and third. After Dustin Ackley was intentionally walked for the first time in his career to load the bases, Olivo hit a hard ground out to third base that scored Kennedy to tie the game at one. Carlos Peguero then singled to load the bases and Gutierrez stepped up in a clutch situation and drove a pitch up the middle to score two runs to give the Mariners a 3-1 lead.
One interesting match-up came in the bottom of the seventh when Jose Lopez pitch hit for the pitcher and faced his friend and former teammate Hernandez on the mound. Lopez flied out to end the inning. Hernandez struck out the side in the eighth inning and walked off the field pumping his fists as the Kings Court cheered and held up yellow K signs.
A Gutierrez single in the ninth inning brought Felix Hernandez to the on deck circle as fans cheered to see one more “royal” at bat. But manager Eric Wedge was quick to pull his ace pitcher for pitch hitter Jack Cust, keeping King Felix from potential injury.
“I was going to swing really hard,” Hernandez said in his post game press conference. “Just swing, its fun to hit.”
Brandon League pitched the last inning for Seattle. The game ended on a fine defensive play by Ackley who stretched out to field a grounder and assisted for the final out.
Ackley has been impressive in his first week in the majors. He had a hit in his first five games and it took 29 swings total in six games before he swung and missed a pitch.
Ackley has been impressive in his first week in the majors. He had a hit in his first five games and it took 29 swings total in six games before he swung and missed a pitch.
Florida Marlin Mike Stanton went 0-4, striking out all four times, three to Felix and once to League in the ninth.
Mariners starters have given up just two runs in four games, an impressive run despite Friday’s win being the only one during the stretch. The Mariners were sweep by the Washington Nationals despite the starters only giving up one run in three games.
With the win, Seattle returns to a .500 record at 38-38. Mariners are 2 ½ games out of first place behind the AL West leading Texas Rangers. The Marlins continue a dreadful month of June still with only two wins and have now lost 12 of their last 13 games. The series continues Saturday with Jason Vargas on the Mound for Seattle, looking to continue a run of superb starting pitching.
Seattle Mariners Three Stars
- Felix Hernandez: 8 innings, 10 KO, 1 run, 2 hits, 1-3 batting - single.
- Miguel Olivo: 1-4, HR, 3 RBI
- Franklin Gutierrez: 2-4, 2 RBI
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