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Felix’s rough stretch vs. Houston continues
- Updated: September 28, 2016
HOUSTON — The Astros appear to have Felix Hernandez’s number after beating Seattle’s ace for the third straight time over the past two seasons on Tuesday, this one an 8-4 decision that made the Mariners’ postseason bid even tougher.
But Hernandez — who was hit hard his previous two meetings with Houston — didn’t get any help as two errors in a fateful six-run sixth inning led to four unearned runs that wound up being the difference.
“He didn’t have wipeout stuff by any means, but he certainly was pitching well and deserved a better fate,” said manager Scott Servais.
Hernandez’s final line was 10 hits and eight runs (four earned) with two walks and three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings as he fell to 11-7 with a 3.71 ERA on the season.
The harder-to-swallow numbers are his three games against Houston in the past two years — 0-3 with a 14.80 ERA.
“I’m not going to say it’s not a good lineup,” Hernandez said. “I just have to make different pitches and have a different approach and I’ll be fine. I changed a lot of my approach tonight and I thought we had it going.”
The 30-year-old gave up a pair of runs in the first, but escaped that jam and a two-on, one-out situation in the third with double-play grounders. He sailed into …