Seattle Mariners: A dubious first for Felix Hernandez
Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners made his second start since his return from the disabled list, and in an up-and-down start he surrendered a home run to an opposing pitcher for the first time in his career.
On Tuesday night, the Seattle Mariners played the Pittsburgh Pirates, and while the Mariners got the best of the Pirates, winning the game 7-4, and Felix Hernandez bested Francisco Liriano on the mound, Liriano did something no other pitcher had accomplished against King Felix in his nearly 12-year career. Liriano took King Felix deep in his only at bat of the game.
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Liriano came to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the second inning, was ahead in the count 2-1, and hit Hernandez’s fourth pitch, a 92.1 mph sinker, right in front of the “A” in the Pirates’ shrubbery beyond the center field wall. It was the first time Hernandez had given up a home run to an opposing pitcher, and it was the first home run hit by a Pirates pitcher in interleague play.
That’s right, since 1997, no Pirates pitcher had hit an interleague home run. Liriano’s blast traveled 416 feet and according to Statcast, it’s the third longest home run hit by a pitcher this season behind Jake Arrieta (440 feet in April) and Wily Peralta (429 feet in June).
Liriano has never been much of a hitter and came into Tuesday’s game with a career line of .150/.181/.178, but after he took his good friend Hernandez deep his season average rose to .300. Hernandez told reporters after the game that he and Liriano had discussed the matchup:
“He got me pretty good. I’ve known him for a while. He’s a great friend of mine. I threw a fastball and he can hit. He’s a great hitter. We talked yesterday. He told me he was going to hit a homer, then he hit a homer.”
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Liriano left the game after three and 1/3 innings. He allowed seven runs on eight hits and four walks, and lost his 10th game of the season. His ERA is now a lofty 5.38. Hernandez pitched six innings and gave up four runs on nine hits. He gave up a home run to Gregory Polanco in the first inning. He earned his fifth win of the season and first since returning from the disabled list on July 20.