PEORIA, Ariz. – Felix Hernandez looked primed and ready for the regular season, pitching six shutout innings to help the Seattle Mariners beat the San Diego Padres 3-1 on Friday night.
Hernandez allowed two hits and struck out nine — including six straight in the third and fourth innings. He threw 70 pitches and didn't walk a batter.
The 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner signed a $175 million, seven-year contract last month, the largest deal for a pitcher in baseball history.
Padres starter Tyson Ross was effective early, but inefficiency cut his outing short. He gave up only one run but was pulled after throwing 94 pitches in 4 2-3 innings.
Ross, competing for the No. 5 spot in San Diego's rotation, had six strikeouts and two walks.
Kelly Shoppach homered leading off the fifth for Seattle, snapping Ross' scoreless streak at 15 1-3 innings.
Yonder Alonso went deep for the Padres, his fourth home run in his last eight games.
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