hasnt been the same since his opening day victory over theOakland Athletics.
The Seattle Mariners ace will try to get back on track when he faces thevisiting As in the opener of a four-game set Thursday night.
Thu, Apr 21 - Final Fri, Apr 22 - Final Sat, Apr 23 - Final Sun, Apr 24 - Final
Hernandez started 2011 on the right foot with a five-hitter in a 6-2 winover Oakland (9-9) on April 1. Hes 3-0 with a 3.19 ERA in six starts againstthe Athletics since the start of 2009.
Since opening day, Hernandez is 0-2 with a 5.50 ERA in three outings whileprogressively pitching fewer innings. He gave up five runs - two earned - overfive innings in a 7-0 loss at Kansas City on Saturday.
The right-hander has received a total of three runs of support in thosestarts, none in the last two.
It will be fine, Hernandez said. Its just the beginning of the season.Were trying hard. Were trying to do the best we can. Weve just got to keepworking hard, just keep trying to hit and pitch. Thats all we can do.
Hernandez (1-2, 4.33) has enjoyed success against Oakland regulars (3 for 22) and (5 for 21), while (.346) and(.316) have fared well against him.
The Athletics have won five straight at Safeco Field. They lost two of threeat home in that opening series, as Crisp was the hitting star by going 5 for 12.Kouzmanoff was 2 for 10, 2 for 11 and DeJesus 1 for 12.
The teams combined for three homers in that series and continue to strugglein that department. Oakland has the second-fewest in the AL with eight andSeattle (6-13) the third-fewest with 10.
Seattle manager Eric Wedge replaced slumping in left fieldWednesday with who made his first major league start and went 0for 4 in a 3-2 home loss to Detroit. Bradley is 8 for 40 with 13 strikeouts inhis last 11 games.
The Mariners are without first baseman who is on bereavementleave. Wedge has indicated that will likely play againstright-handers, and his club will face one Thursday in (1-0,2.45).
McCarthy allowed six hits over 6 2-3 scoreless innings in an 8-4, 10-inningloss to the Tigers on Friday.
Hes 1-1 with a 6.93 ERA in five starts versus Seattle. is 4for 15 against him and 5 for 10.
Suzuki was 5 for 12 in the season-opening series. Hes batting .358 during a16-game hitting streak against the As, who own the majors best ERA at 2.58.
Both teams struggled with runners in scoring position Wednesday. TheMariners went 1 for 9 to drop to an AL-worst .198 while Oakland went 3 for 15 inits 5-3 loss to Boston.
We didnt take advantage of some situations when we had them, manager BobGeren said. We had some of our better hits up in certain situations and didntnecessarily come through.
