Clay Buchholz is, without question, the early leader for the Cy Young Award. But there are a lot of good pitchers in the AL who stand to take the lead if Buchholz falters. One of ‘em is a usual suspect: Felix Hernandez. And last night he was his typical dominant self.
Hernandez threw eight shutout innings in the Mariners’ 4-0 win over the Blue Jays, striking out seven, walking no one and allowing only five hits while only needing 95 pitches. In his last four starts he has struck out 35 batters while walking only two and allowing 20 hits and two earned runs -- just two! -- in thirty innings. Of course he got a no decision in one of ‘em, where he struck out 12 and allowed a single run. The Mariners are gonna Mariner.
Most of us miss so many of his starts because he’s usually on west coast time. When he does get a start on eastern time like last night -- and like it appears he will against the Yankees on May 16 -- we easties should tune in and see a real doctor at work.
