SEATTLE, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- Felix Hernandez took a no-hitter into the eighth inning Friday and then worked his way out of trouble to preserve the Seattle Mariners' 2-1 victory over Texas.
Hernandez (12-11) walked Elvis Andrus to open the game, and then retired 21 consecutive batters while the Mariners were scratching out a two-run lead against the AL Western Division-leading Rangers, who had won their previous seven games.
Seattle ended its seven-game losing streak.
Nelson Cruz put an end to the no-hit bid leading off the eighth when he homered to center and Hernandez then gave up one-out singles to Mitch Moreland and Chris Davis to put the Seattle lead in danger.
Julio Borbon, however, popped out to third base and Andrus grounded out to shortstop to end the threat.
David Aardsma pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 30th save.
C.J. Wilson (14-7) was the hard-luck loser, giving up two runs on six hits with six strikeouts in eight innings.
The Texas lead over Oakland in the AL West was cut to nine games.
