Game #91: Hernandez and a Former Indian Lift Seattle to a 6-2 Win Over Tribe

The Indians one-game winning streak is history, as Felix Hernandez did a very solid job against the Tribe on Friday night, throwing 8 innings allowing two runs as the Mariners beat the Indians 6-2. Hernandez isn’t an ace for nothing, he’s 9-2 in starts after a Mariners loss, which is exactly the situation he walked into on Friday night.
Hernandez allowed five hits, walked one and struck out eight in his first start since pitching a scoreless inning in Tuesday’s All-Star game. He lowered his ERA to 2.51. He was very good against an overmatched Indians team that has had issues all year long with some of the better pitchers in the AL.
The Indians offense was so lackluster, they didn’t get a runner past second base until the sixth, when Grady Sizemore tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly. Sizemore doubled home the Indians’ other run in the eighth in an otherwise light night for the offense.
“He had an outstanding fastball,” Indians manager Eric Wedge said of Hernandez. “He’s always had a great arm, but he’s really matured as a pitcher and how he utilizes his stuff. He has a special arm and he’s pitching with it.”
Other than Hernandez, the toughest thing to watch in the contest was former Indian Franklin Gutierrez hitting his 11th home run in the second inning off losing pitcher David Huff. Here’s what hurts – Gutierrez, who was moved in a three-team deal in December, entered the game with a league-best .385 average since June 18th and has hit in 23 of his last 25 games.
Think the Tribe could use him about now?
Oh well, no use crying over spilled milk, the teams will go at it again on Saturday night, as Jarrod Washburn (6-6, 2.96 ERA) goes for Seattle vs Tomo Ohka (0-3, 6.40) for the now 36-55 Indians.








Matt has covered Major League Baseball and the "other two" Pro teams in Cleveland since 1994. He has been on the beat of the Indians in full-time mode since 1996, working for various raido and print networks around the country.