Safeco Field

Felix Hernandez is such a star in Seattle that only one of him isn't enough to go around. Hernandez took the time before Saturday night's game against the Chicago White Sox to hand out "Larry Bernandez" bobbleheads to fans. Bernandez was part of the Mariners' yearly set of commericals produced in spring training. The ad centers around Hernandez's distain for having to come out of games he starts — he takes the mound wearing a wig with long sideburns and glasses and electrical tape, changing the name on the back of his jersey to Bernandez to try and pitch a second day in a row...

Jason Vargas threw seven innings and the top of the order provided pop for the Seattle Mariners in a 4-1 win Wednesday night over the Cleveland Indians before the smallest crowd in the history of Safeco Field. Brandon League pitched the bottom of the ninth for his fifth straight save. Just 11,343 watched the game, setting a new record-low at Safeco Field, which was built in 1999. The previous low was 11,701 against Baltimore on May 31, 2011. Derek Lowe (2-1) pitched 4 1-3 innings, allowed two home runs, four earned runs and walked six — one short of his career-high.

Charlie Furbush at least feels familiar being in a starting rotation and knowing he'll be going out to the mound on a regular basis. Now comes finding some consistency to prove he can be part of the Seattle Mariners' future plans as one of their starters. Furbush struggled through five innings on Friday night in Seattle's 4-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox. He barely made it out of the first inning, then gave up a tiebreaking two-run homer to Seattle native Brent Lillibridge in the fifth that proved to be enough support for White Sox starter Jake Peavy.

Cleveland starter Derek Lowe marveled at his strange outing. He walked six batters, gave up two home runs and six hits in all — and only allowed four runs in Cleveland's 4-1 loss to Seattle on Wednesday night. He actually overstated it a bit, crediting the Mariners with only two runs. But he still got off easy for allowing 12 baserunners in 4 1-3 innings. "The start wasn't the best, but it's still hard to do — give up six hits on top of the two home runs and six walks, and they only scored two runs," Lowe said.

In Felix Hernandez’s mind, the Seattle Mariners’ 5-1 victory over the Florida Marlins on Friday night was just about a perfect game. He allowed two hits and a run over eight innings, and in an unusual circumstance he also got to bat at Safeco Field. “It’s fun to hit,’’ Hernandez said with a broad smile after getting the Mariners’ first hit of the game, a single in the third inning, and the first hit ever by pitcher in the 12-year history of Safeco Field. This was considered a home game for the Marlins, who relocated the three-game series to Seattle due to a...

Jason Vargas held San Diego to six singles and didn’t allow a runner past second base for his third shutout this season and the Seattle Mariners beat the Padres 6-0 Friday night. Vargas (6-5) struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter in his fourth career complete game. He is the first pitcher ever to have three shutouts at Safeco Field in the same season. It was the ninth shutout for the Mariners this season while San Diego has been shut out a major-league-leading 13 times.

Jason Vargas threw seven innings and the top of the order provided pop for the Seattle Mariners in a 4-1 win Wednesday night over the Cleveland Indians before the smallest crowd in the history of Safeco Field. Brandon League pitched the bottom of the ninth for his fifth straight save. Just 11,343 watched the game, setting a new record-low at Safeco Field, which was built in 1999. The previous low was 11,701 against Baltimore on May 31, 2011. Derek Lowe (2-1) pitched 4 1-3 innings, allowed two home runs, four earned runs and walked six — one short of his career-high.

Cleveland starter Derek Lowe marveled at his strange outing. He walked six batters, gave up two home runs and six hits in all — and only allowed four runs in Cleveland's 4-1 loss to Seattle on Wednesday night. He actually overstated it a bit, crediting the Mariners with only two runs. But he still got off easy for allowing 12 baserunners in 4 1-3 innings. "The start wasn't the best, but it's still hard to do — give up six hits on top of the two home runs and six walks, and they only scored two runs," Lowe said.

SEATTLE — The Kid has called it quits. Just the way Ken Griffey Jr. wanted, there will be no farewell tour for one of the greatest players in baseball history. Instead, Griffey simply informed the Mariners last night his career was over. The 40-year-old Griffey unexpectedly announced his retirement before Seattle’s game against Minnesota after 22 seasons, 13 All-Star appearances, and widespread acclaim as one of the greatest players of his generation. Stuck in a limited role as a backup designated hitter and pinch hitter, Griffey called team president Chuck Armstrong and...

CC Sabathia allowed one run in eight innings and the Yankees used a five-run third inning to coast to a 7-1 victory over the Mariners yesterday and avoid a three-game sweep in Seattle. Sabathia (6-3) was again New York’s stopper. He won for the third time in four tries when pitching after a loss, allowing just two hits through five innings before giving up a solo home run to Justin Smoak in the sixth. The lefthander won his sixth straight start against the Mariners and improved to 8-1 in 11 starts at Safeco Field.

Jonathan Broxton lost his command and lost the game on his final two pitches. Broxton hit Jonny Gomes on the first pitch he threw with the bases loaded in the 12th inning, forcing Jemile Weeks home for the winning run in the Kansas City Royals' 5-4 loss to the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday. Moments earlier, Kansas City's new closer (0-1) plunked rookie cleanup hitter Yoenis Cespedes on the first pitch to load the bases, prompting a mound visit from pitching coach Dave Eiland.

Felix Hernandez is such a star in Seattle that only one of him isn't enough to go around. Hernandez took the time before Saturday night's game against the Chicago White Sox to hand out "Larry Bernandez" bobbleheads to fans. Bernandez was part of the Mariners' yearly set of commericals produced in spring training. The ad centers around Hernandez's distain for having to come out of games he starts — he takes the mound wearing a wig with long sideburns and glasses and electrical tape, changing the name on the back of his jersey to Bernandez to try...

Charlie Furbush at least feels familiar being in a starting rotation and knowing he'll be going out to the mound on a regular basis. Now comes finding some consistency to prove he can be part of the Seattle Mariners' future plans as one of their starters. Furbush struggled through five innings on Friday night in Seattle's 4-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox. He barely made it out of the first inning, then gave up a tiebreaking two-run homer to Seattle native Brent Lillibridge in the fifth that proved to be enough support for White Sox starter Jake Peavy.

Jason Vargas held San Diego to six singles and didn’t allow a runner past second base for his third shutout this season and the Seattle Mariners beat the Padres 6-0 Friday night. Vargas (6-5) struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter in his fourth career complete game. He is the first pitcher ever to have three shutouts at Safeco Field in the same season. It was the ninth shutout for the Mariners this season while San Diego has been shut out a major-league-leading 13 times.

In Felix Hernandez’s mind, the Seattle Mariners’ 5-1 victory over the Florida Marlins on Friday night was just about a perfect game. He allowed two hits and a run over eight innings, and in an unusual circumstance he also got to bat at Safeco Field. “It’s fun to hit,’’ Hernandez said with a broad smile after getting the Mariners’ first hit of the game, a single in the third inning, and the first hit ever by pitcher in the 12-year history of Safeco Field. This was considered a home game for the Marlins, who relocated the three-game series to...

The book is already out on Seattle rookie Carlos Peguero: Don’t give him many fastballs. Tampa Bay starter James Shields tried to follow that thinking, peppering Peguero with changeups and curveballs. Shields just happened to do it on a night where he wasn’t sharp and Peguero showed he can make adjustments. Peguero hit two of Seattle’s season-high four home runs, all four off Shields, and ace Felix Hernandez cruised through seven innings to lead the Mariners to an 8-2 victory over the Rays.

The book is already out on Seattle rookie Carlos Peguero: Don’t give him many fastballs. Tampa Bay starter James Shields tried to follow that thinking, peppering Peguero with changeups and curveballs. Shields just happened to do it on a night where he wasn’t sharp and Peguero showed he can make adjustments. Peguero hit two of Seattle’s season-high four home runs, all four off Shields, and ace Felix Hernandez cruised through seven innings to lead the Mariners to an 8-2 victory over the Rays.

Jonathan Broxton lost his command and lost the game on his final two pitches. Broxton hit Jonny Gomes on the first pitch he threw with the bases loaded in the 12th inning, forcing Jemile Weeks home for the winning run in the Kansas City Royals' 5-4 loss to the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday. Moments earlier, Kansas City's new closer (0-1) plunked rookie cleanup hitter Yoenis Cespedes on the first pitch to load the bases, prompting a mound visit from pitching coach Dave Eiland.

CC Sabathia allowed one run in eight innings and the Yankees used a five-run third inning to coast to a 7-1 victory over the Mariners yesterday and avoid a three-game sweep in Seattle. Sabathia (6-3) was again New York’s stopper. He won for the third time in four tries when pitching after a loss, allowing just two hits through five innings before giving up a solo home run to Justin Smoak in the sixth. The lefthander won his sixth straight start against the Mariners and improved to 8-1 in 11 starts at Safeco Field.

SEATTLE — The Kid has called it quits. Just the way Ken Griffey Jr. wanted, there will be no farewell tour for one of the greatest players in baseball history. Instead, Griffey simply informed the Mariners last night his career was over. The 40-year-old Griffey unexpectedly announced his retirement before Seattle’s game against Minnesota after 22 seasons, 13 All-Star appearances, and widespread acclaim as one of the greatest players of his generation. Stuck in a limited role as a backup designated hitter and pinch hitter, Griffey called team president Chuck...