Felix dominant, Cruz goes deep as M’s beat Twins 2-0

SEATTLE — There’s something about the Minnesota Twins, apparently, that turns the King into his regal best.

Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez pitched a shutout Friday night in a 2-0 victory at Safeco Field, which is pretty much what he always does when he faces the Twins.

This makes six straight games against Minnesota in which Hernandez pitched at least eight innings while allowing two or fewer runs. Nobody else has fashioned that type of streak against any opponent in the last decade.

“When I started the game,” Hernandez said, “I was in the strike zone, and I felt really good. The fastball was really good and making everything better. I knew I had it. I had the stuff to throw a perfect game, but it didn’t happen.”

Not that it was easy.

The Mariners managed just two runs against right-hander Phil Hughes (0-4) despite unleashing a boatload of line drives that had Twins outfielders, particularly center field Jordan Shafer, sprinting all over the Safeco acreage.

“We hit some balls hard,” manager Lloyd McClendon said, “couldn’t capitalize and then (Hughes) shut us down. He was pretty good as well.”

Two runs were enough.

Hernandez (3-0) gave up five hits while striking out nine and walking none in a 102-pitch effort. It was the 24th complete game of his career, but his first since Aug. 27, 2012…at Minnesota.

“Thank God,” Shafer said, “every guy you face isn’t like that.”

The biggest issue for Hernandez was a troublesome right quadriceps muscle that again barked on a few occasions when he leaped to corral choppers back to the mound.

“When I jumped, yeah, (I felt it),” he said. “I should go back (a step) and catch it.”

While homers by Cruz and Logan Morrison provided Hernandez with a two-run lead, he had to weather threats by the Twins in the sixth and seventh innings.

Minnesota had runners at first and third with no outs in the sixth, but they held up on Danny Santana’s fly to short center. Hernandez then struck out Torii Hunter before stranding both runners when Joe Mauer grounded to first.

Minnesota mounted another threat in the seventh when two-out singles by Trevor Plouffe and Oswaldo Arcia again put runners at first and third. Hernandez escaped by retiring Kurt Suzuki on a fly to right.

“We were trying different things,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “We were trying to be aggressive. We were trying to be patient. He was throwing hard and changing speeds well.

“You don’t get a lot of shots against him, and we didn’t take advantage of the ones we had.”

Hernandez opened the game with four strikeouts, which sent a buzz through the crowd of 25,215.

“I was like, ‘Oh, here we go,’” Morrison said. “Perfect game didn’t happen, but a complete game will do and we won.”

Hernandez retired the first 14 Twins and admitted he was a “little bit disappointed” when Plouffe served a clean single into right field with two outs in the fifth inning.

Cruz opened the scoring with a 425-foot laser in the second inning that still seemed to be rising when it reached the upper deck beyond the left-field wall. That was the Mariners’ in-house estimate. ESPN tracked it at 442 feet.

It was Cruz’s ninth homer of the season, which leads the majors, and whatever the distance — it was crushed. Asked if he can hit a ball harder, Cruz admitted: “I don’t know. I don’t think so.”

Kyle Seager followed with a double past first that should have turned into another run after Dustin Ackley sent Shafer to the center-field wall on a deep fly.

Seager failed to advance on the play, which proved costly when Morrison followed with a drive that Shafer tracked down in deep right-center field.

Had Seager been on third, he could have trotted home. Instead, the Mariners left him at second when Mike Zunino struck out.

The Mariners got their other run when Morrison finally cashed a reward for a hard-hit ball when he sent a fifth-inning drive over the right-center wall.

Asked if he feared it, too, might be caught, Morrison quipped, “Somebody did, I think. A fan did. Reached over and caught it. … I got barrel, and I swung really hard. I was hoping nobody was going to catch it.”

After that, it was all Felix.

“He was amazing,” Cruz said. “I remember being on the other side and seeing him that tough.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Arlington’s Leyton Martin (2) poses for a photo at Arlington High School on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Boys Basketball Player of the Year: Leyton Martin

Arlington’s do-it-all junior point guard led the Eagles to a district title and second straight Hardwood Classic.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 28

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 28: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Left to right, Mountlake Terrace’s Zaveon Jones, Glacier Peak’s Jo Lee, Everett’s Isaiah White, Arlington’s Leyton Martin, Jackson’s Ryan McFerran, and Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel pose for a photo at Arlington High School on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area boys basketball teams

A look at the top prep boys basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Silvertips’ Andrew Petruk (26) fights for the puck during a game between the Everett Silvertips and the Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Breaking down the Silvertips’ 1st-round playoff series vs. the Giants

Everett is searching for a revenge after a shocking playoff exit against Vancouver two years ago.

Left to right, Arlington’s Samara Morrow, Kamiak’s Bella Hasan, Everett’s Alana Washington, Lake Steven’s Nisa Ellis, Lynnwood’s Aniya Hooker, and Meadowdale’s Gia Powell, pose for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area girls basketball teams

A look at the top prep girls basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Everett’s Alana Washington poses for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Alana Washington

The Everett senior upped her game in the postseason to help the Seagulls overcome injuries and claim their first state trophy in 41 years.

Silvertips players celebrate during a game between the Everett Silvertips and Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. The Silvertips won, 5-3. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Silvertips land No. 1 pick, chance to draft generational talent

Landon DuPont is the consensus top pick in next WHL prospects draft. Everett chief operating officer Zoran Rajcic said the team intends to select him.

Dennis Williams, head coach and GM of the Everett Silvertips, shakes hands with an assistant coach at the end of a season opening victory over the Vancouver Giants on Saturday, Sep. 24, 2022, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Coach, GM Williams leaving Silvertips for Bowling Green State

After seven successful season leading Everett, Dennis Williams is heading back to his alma mater. He’ll stay with the Tips through the WHL playoffs.

Stanwood High School student athletes during their signing day ceremony. (Courtesy of Stanwood High School)
Local class of 2024 athletes who have signed to play in college

A running list of 2024 high school athletes who are set to compete at the next level.

Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel talks with head coach Nalin Sood during the 3A boys state basketball game against Todd Beamer on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 in Tacoma, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘It was just time’: Mountlake Terrace basketball coach Sood steps down

Nalin Sood guided his alma mater to 381 wins and 15 state berths in 24 seasons as head coach. He spent over four decades with the program.

University of Washington's new men's basketball coach Danny Sprinkle meets the news media, Wednesday, March 27, 2024 in Seattle. (Ken Lambert/The Seattle Times via AP)
Taking over at Washington personal for men’s basketball coach Sprinkle

Danny Sprinkle spoke about his connection to the school during his introductory press conference Wednesday.

X
Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26

Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.