Hernandez, Mariners blank Reds
CINCINNATI -- Franklin Gutierrez hit a three-run home run, Leonys Martin added a solo shot, and Felix Hernandez allowed four hits in six innings lifting the Seattle Mariners to a 4-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.
Seattle (25-17) improved to 12-2 all-time against Cincinnati which dropped to 0-6 in interleague play this season coming off four straight losses to Cleveland earlier this week.
Reds starter John Lamb labored in the first inning on Saturday, tossing 25 pitches and going to a full count on three batters, but the Mariners stranded runners on the corners.
Lamb retired the first two batters in the second before Martin crushed his 0-1 pitch into the visitor's bullpen in right field to put Seattle ahead 1-0. It was Martin's eighth homer this season.
Hernandez (4-3) retired the first eight batters he faced before Lamb reached on an infield single in the third. The Reds loaded the bases, but Hernandez snared Joey Votto's liner for the final out.
That missed scoring opportunity came back to haunt Cincinnati when Gutierrez hit his second home run of the season, a mammoth three-run shot estimated at 473 feet into the left field bleachers to make the score 4-0.
It was Gutierrez's first homer since May 10.
Lamb (0-2) was charged with three earned runs in six innings. He walked three and fanned three while needing 111 pitches to get through six.
Cincinnati missed another scoring chance against Hernandez in the fifth with Votto at the plate. This time Hernandez got the Reds' first baseman to ground out ending the inning.
Hernandez hadn't faced the Reds since June 19, 2010 when he tossed a complete game allowing a run with nine strikeouts. He fanned five on Saturday while walking three.
Cincinnati (15-28) was shutout for the third time this season, which includes being no-hit by the Cubs' Jake Arrieta.
The struggling Cincinnati bullpen produced three scoreless innings Saturday, but Mariners pitchers retired the Reds in order in seven of nine innings.
NOTES: Mariners SS Ketel Marte left the game in the fifth inning with a left thumb sprain. ... Reds RF Jay Bruce was scratched from the starting lineup because of a sore left knee. Tyler Holt replaced him in RF. ... Reds RHP Anthony DeSclafani is restarting his rehab with a start on Wednesday for Triple-A Louisville. DeSclafani's rehab was paused briefly due to a setback with his strained left oblique. ... Mariners 1B Dae-Ho Lee is the second Mariners rookie to have two pinch-hit, game-winning RBIs, but first to do it in the same season.