‘King’ Felix Hernandez Pitches Perfect Game For Mariners

King Felix Hernandez pitched a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Safeco field on Wednesday, allowing the Seattle Mariners to beat the Rays 1-0.

King Felix — as his fans have come to call him — struck out 11 batters on 112 pitches, helping the M’s win the season’s third and the 23rd in major league history, reports MSNBC Sports.

While the game is the second no hitter for the Mariners this season, this is their first by one pitcher alone. (The last one took the help of six pitchers in the Mariners’ bullpen). Sean Rodrigues of the Rays was the 27th and final out of the game, allowing the Mariners to enjoy their victory at home.

This was King Felix’s first perfect game and no-hitter for the pitcher who won the American League Cy Young award in 2010. Hernandez’s fans took to social media directly after the game, with Facebook users commenting, “Felix is ours and you can’t have him,” “Long live king Felix!!!” and “HAIL TO THE KING.”

It is clear that Felix Hernandez is becoming as beloved to Mariners fans as Randy Johnson, the 90s pitching powerhouse who led the club to the playoffs in 1995 where they ultimately lost their bid for the World Series. King Felix can now claim a spot in M’s history again with the first perfect game in Mariners history, according to SI.com. The win was also Hernandez’s fourth shutout of the season.

SB Nation notes that the veteran pitcher from Venezuela is currently in his eighth season with the Seattle Mariners, holding a 3.19 career ERA with the club.

Were you excited to see King Felix Hernandez pitch a perfect game, the first in Seattle Mariners history?

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