PHOENIX (AP) — Felix Hernandez shook off a line drive that just missed hitting him in the head, striking out three in 2 2-3 innings of his spring debut as the Seattle Mariners defeated the Oakland Athletics 6-3.
Perhaps the hardest-hit ball against the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner came off the bat of A’s leadoff man David DeJesus. The single up the middle was one of five hits Hernandez allowed.
Hernandez threw 53 pitches, 34 for strikes. He was lifted after giving up a run on Kevin Kouzmanoff’s two-out single in the third and walking the last batter he faced.
Right-hander Michael Pineda, a prized rookie and strong candidate for Seattle’s starting rotation, tossed two scoreless innings with two walks and a strikeout.
