Felix, Mariners survive Sale to gain in WC chase

CHICAGO — Felix Hernandez is starting to look more like, well, Felix Hernandez these days. And it couldn’t come at a better time for the Mariners as they rode their ace to a 3-1 victory over Chris Sale and the White Sox in a battle of two of the American League’s top hurlers on Friday at U.S. Cellular Field.

Hernandez allowed just a solo home run by Todd Frazier in the seventh over 7 1/3 innings, scattering eight hits with two walks and five strikeouts. The 30-year-old is 5-0 with a 3.46 ERA in eight starts since returning from a two-month stint on the disabled list with a strained calf.

Sale struck out 14 in an outstanding complete-game effort, and he retired the last 16 batters he faced, but took the loss as he allowed five hits and three runs over the first four frames in falling to 15-7 with a 3.14 ERA. He’s now 4-1 with a 2.44 ERA in seven career starts against Seattle.

Hernandez received a huge boost from rookie closer Edwin Diaz, who entered with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth and slammed the door on four pitches, including a bare-hand play by third baseman Shawn O’Malley on a slow roller by Tim Anderson to get a force at home for the second out. The hard-throwing 22-year-old then struck out the side in the ninth to record his 11th straight save.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Mariners, who moved within two games of the Orioles for the American League’s second Wild Card.

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