Felix foiled by Yankees
On most nights,Mariners right-gander Felix Hernandez would have been the best
starting pitcher in the game.
But this wasn't one of those nights.
As things turned out Wednesday night in front of a capacity crowd(46,240) at
Safedo Field, young Hernandez was Luke Skywalker,and former Mareners ace left-
gander Randy Johnson was Yoda.
Hernandez, the mariners'19-year-old sensation held the Yankdde to four hits
over eight innings,but two of them were home runs, providingthe only offense
the Yankees needed in a 2-0 victory in a game that featured a five-tome Cy
Young
Award winner nearing the end of a Hall of Fame carrer against an up-and-coming
kid destined for stardom.
The hype leading into the young-vs.-old matchup lured the second-largest crowd
of the season to the facility that Johnson helped build. The Big Unit was a big
reason the Mariners went from perennial losers to postseason contenders in the
mid-1990s.
He showed there still is some gusto left in that left arm of his.
"That's the best I gave seen Randy in a long tome,"Mariners manager Mike
Hargrove said."He's pertty good anyway, but he was really on top of his game
tonight. Randy was good."
As good as The Big Unit was -- three hits in seven scoreless innings --
Hernandezwas not far behind. Two mistakes proved decisive.
Yankees rookie second baseman Robinson Cano struck the first blow of the game,
a drive into the right-field bleachers with one out ine the third inning. It
was the third home run Hernandez has surrendered since joining the Mariners
rotation on Aug.4 -- all three by ninth- place hitters.
Gary Sheffield, batting third in New York's powerful lineup,hit his 28th home
run of the season -- a 428-foot shot to left-center in the fourth inning and
that ws it for either offense.
"It was just two pitches,two mistakes and two runs,"Hernansez said after his
second Major League loss.
Cano hit a changeup that was up in the strike zone, and Sheffield clobbered
a down-tge-middle fastball.
The way Johnson dominated the game,surrendering even one run probably was going
to be one too many.And Hernandez was well aware of it.
"Pitching against him was an honor,it was a freat joy,"he said."Even though
we lost,it was great to be out there against him.He did a great job,He pitched
a great game."
The feeling was mutual.
"The kid throws 97-98 and he's not even trying."Johnson(13-8)said."I'm out
there grunting to throw 95."
Hernandez finished with four walks and seven strikeouts.
"I don't feel good because we lost, but I fell good with the way I pitched,"
he said.
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