Seattle Mariners’ Felix Hernandez has best ERA in AL
By Ed Carroll
The Seattle Mariners failed to make the playoffs despite a 4-1 victory against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, but starter Felix Hernandez’s 5.1 scoreless innings pitched was enough to boost Seattle’s ace to 2.14 on the season, making Hernandez the American League ERA champion.
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Hernandez was able to come close to the title thanks to a late scoring change, and after the Oakland Athletics ended the Mariners’ playoff chances with a victory, and Hernandez had dropped his earned run average past the previous leader, Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox, Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon pulled the starter, who only allowed a single hit in the first inning.
Sale finished the year with a 2.17 ERA.
Hernandez is a serious contender for the American League Cy Young, and in 236 innings pitched this year, the right-hander had a WHIP of 0.92. “King Felix” went 15-6 in his 34 starts this season, but faces stiff competition from the Cleveland Indians’ ace, Corey Kluber, who had an ERA of 2.44 in 34 starts and 269 strikeouts on the year, in 235.2 innings pitched. It remains to be seen if Cy Young voters will penalize Hernandez for his low win total, and for pitching in spacious Safeco Field. Hernandez’s ERA title is his second, as he also won the title in his Cy Young-winning 2010 season.
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