Felix Hernandez says he’s all set for a bounce-back season.
Now pitching entirely from the stretch, King Felix made his spring training debut Saturday, giving up four runs in 1 1/3 innings as the Seattle Mariners lost to the San Diego Padres 6-4.
The six-time All-Star allowed four hits, only one of them solid. He didn’t walk anyone, but hit a batter and threw just 23 strikes in 42 pitches.
“The most important thing is that my arm and my body feel good,” Hernandez said. “The pitches were moving, the curveball was really good.”
Hernandez turns 33 in April and is entering his 15th season in Seattle - and the final year of his seven-year, $175 million contract. The Mariners hold a team option for 2020.
Long the ace of the Seattle staff, he is coming off the worst year of his career, posting a 5.55 ERA in 155 2/3 innings and being removed from the rotation for the first time in his career.
During the offseason, Hernandez decided to work from the set position.
“I feel good from the stretch. I just feel like I’m going straight to the plate,” he said. “Not too much movement. From the windup, I got to do a lot of stuff.”
AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT AND CACTUS LEAGUES
RED SOX 8, YANKEES 5
Gleyber Torres hit a solo home run for the Yankees. Rafael Devers had two hits for Boston and top prospect Michael Chavis hit a three-run homer.
METS 4, BRAVES 3
Robinson Cano hit a go-ahead single for the Mets and highly touted Pete Alonso homered on the first pitch he saw this spring. Touki Toussaint started for Atlanta, allowing two runs on two hits.
CARDINALS 11, MARLINS 1
St. Louis ace Miles Mikolas pitched two perfect innings. Sandy Alcantara threw two scoreless innings for Miami.
PIRATES 3, PHILLIES 2
Jean Segura went 1 for 3 in his first game with Philadelphia while fellow newcomers Andrew McCutchen and J.T. Realmuto were both hitless in two trips.
ORIOLES 7, TWINS (SS) 2
Chance Sisco hit a three-run homer for Baltimore and rotation hopeful Yefry Ramirez allowed a run on two hits and two walks in two innings. Jake Cave had two hits for Minnesota’s split squad.
TIGERS 4, BLUE JAYS 0
Detroit starter Matt Moore pitched two scoreless innings and Niko Goodrum had a two-run homer. Teoscar Hernandez had two of Toronto’s four hits.
ROCKIES 7, DIAMONDBACKS 3
David Dahl doubled twice for Colorado. Colton Welker, drafted by the Rockies in 2016 out of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, hit a home run.
Steven Souza Jr. homered for Arizona.
CUBS 8, BREWERS 4
Kris Bryant hit a home run in his first spring at-bat and also singled for Chicago. The former NL MVP worked over the winter to strengthen the left shoulder that robbed him of his typical power last season.
Corey Ray, Milwaukee’s first-round draft pick in 2016, homered and doubled.
INDIANS 3, REDS 3, 9 INNINGS
Matt Kemp hit a two-run homer in his Cincinnati debut. Tyler Naquin homered for Cleveland.
ROYALS 9, RANGERS 1
Alex Gordon doubled and singled for Kansas City and Jorge Soler added an RBI single.
Matt Davidson, signed to a minor league contract by Texas, started at third base and had a hit. He is slotted to work as both an infielder and a pitcher this spring.
DODGERS 7, WHITE SOX (SS) 6
Russell Martin marked his return to the Dodgers with an RBI double. He caught five seasons for LA and returned in a trade with Toronto. Joc Pederson homered for the Dodgers and Rich Hill pitched a fast inning.
D.J. Peterson homered for Chicago.
ANGELS 10, GIANTS 3
Taylor Ward hit a grand slam for the Angels and Peter Bourjos had a two-run single.
ATHLETICS 6, WHITE SOX (SS) 5
Stephen Piscotty homered for Oakland. Yoan Moncada had two hits for Chicago, driving in a run and scoring once.
PADRES 6, MARINERS 4
Jose Pirela doubled and singled for San Diego. Shed Long, a former Reds prospect acquired in a three-team trade with the Yankees, homered for Seattle.
NATIONALS 7, ASTROS 6
Anthony Rendon homered and Spencer Kieboom added a three-run shot for Washington. Jake Marisnick led off with a home run against Nationals ace Max Scherzer, who threw 44 pitches in two innings.
TWINS (SS) 10, RAYS 5
Byron Buxton hit a three-run homer and a two-run single for Minnesota. Nelson Cruz scored twice in his Twins debut.
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