King Felix’s gem leads Mariners
Sunday, August 2, 2009 12:36 AM PDT
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 622nd career home run and Felix Hernandez pitched seven solid innings to lead the Seattle Mariners to a 7-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night.
Griffey’s three-run shot in the first came off Rangers starter Tommy Hunter, the 400th different pitcher he has homered off in his career.
Hernandez (12-4) bounced back from his worst effort of the season to win for the fourth time in five starts.
The right-hander gave up two runs and six hits as Seattle won for the third time in nine games.
Seattle’s Jose Lopez had three hits and two RBIs, including a solo homer in the eighth.
Nelson Cruz hit his 25th homer in the fourth inning and had three hits for the Rangers, who lost for only the third time in 13 games.
Texas is four games behind the Los Angeles Angels in the American League West and trails Boston by 21⁄2 games in the Wild Card chase.
Ichiro Suzuki reached on an error leading off the game and Lopez walked to set the stage for Griffey.
He lined a 3-2 pitch from Hunter into the grassy area beyond the center field fence. It was Griffey’s 11th homer.
