SEATTLE (AP) -- Felix Hernandez tossed a five-hitter for his first complete game victory since August 2012, and Nelson Cruz gave him all the offense he needed with his major league leading ninth home run as the Seattle Mariners beat the Minnesota Twins 2-0 on Friday night.Cruz's homer led off the second inning and traveled 452 feet on a line five rows deep into the second deck above the bullpens in left field off Minnesota starter Phil Hughes (0-4). Cruz now has more homers than both the Twins and Milwaukee Brewers this season. 
That was all the support Hernandez (3-0) needed on a night he was dominant. He retired the first 14 batters before Trevor Plouffe's single with two outs in the fifth. He struck out nine, threw 102 pitches and got out of jams in the sixth and seventh innings.It was Hernandez's first complete game win since beating Minnesota on Aug. 27, 2012, when he also allowed five hits. Hernandez is now 3-0 for the second straight season and the third time in his career.Logan Morrison added his first home run of the season - his first extra-base hit and first RBI of the season as well - with a solo shot to right-center field leading off the fifth.Hughes went eight innings, allowing six hits and striking out nine.Hernandez needed just 38 pitches to cruise through the first 12 batters, half striking out. He struck out Brian Dozier to start the fifth and got Kennys Vargas to ground out before Plouffe lined a 1-1 pitch into right field for the Twins' first hit.An inning later, Hernandez found himself in a major jam. Kurt Suzuki reached on an infield single deep in the hole at short and advanced to second when Brad Miller's throw went out of play. Jordan Schafer - robbed of a hit in the third on a great defensive play by Robinson Cano and Morrison - reached on an infield single, putting runners at the corners with no outs.Danny Santana hit a fly ball to center field but wasn't deep enough for Suzuki to tag and score. Torii Hunter struck out and Joe Mauer grounded out to first to end the threat.Minnesota put runners at the corners with two outs in the seventh, but Hernandez got a fly out from Suzuki to end the inning.Hernandez was at 91 pitches after the eighth and came back for the ninth to a standing ovation. He got Mauer to ground out, Dozier to fly out and Vargas on a comebacker to close out the victory.
That was all the support Hernandez (3-0) needed on a night he was dominant. He retired the first 14 batters before Trevor Plouffe's single with two outs in the fifth. He struck out nine, threw 102 pitches and got out of jams in the sixth and seventh innings.It was Hernandez's first complete game win since beating Minnesota on Aug. 27, 2012, when he also allowed five hits. Hernandez is now 3-0 for the second straight season and the third time in his career.Logan Morrison added his first home run of the season - his first extra-base hit and first RBI of the season as well - with a solo shot to right-center field leading off the fifth.Hughes went eight innings, allowing six hits and striking out nine.Hernandez needed just 38 pitches to cruise through the first 12 batters, half striking out. He struck out Brian Dozier to start the fifth and got Kennys Vargas to ground out before Plouffe lined a 1-1 pitch into right field for the Twins' first hit.An inning later, Hernandez found himself in a major jam. Kurt Suzuki reached on an infield single deep in the hole at short and advanced to second when Brad Miller's throw went out of play. Jordan Schafer - robbed of a hit in the third on a great defensive play by Robinson Cano and Morrison - reached on an infield single, putting runners at the corners with no outs.Danny Santana hit a fly ball to center field but wasn't deep enough for Suzuki to tag and score. Torii Hunter struck out and Joe Mauer grounded out to first to end the threat.Minnesota put runners at the corners with two outs in the seventh, but Hernandez got a fly out from Suzuki to end the inning.Hernandez was at 91 pitches after the eighth and came back for the ninth to a standing ovation. He got Mauer to ground out, Dozier to fly out and Vargas on a comebacker to close out the victory.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
