SEATTLE, June 3 (UPI) -- Carlos Peguero hit two of Seattle's four homers Thursday to give Felix Hernandez plenty of support and lead the Mariners past Tampa Bay 8-2.
Hernandez showed the form that brought him the 2010 AL Cy Young Award, striking out 11 in seven innings.
Peguero hit a three-run blast that finished off a five-run second inning, and then delivered a solo shot in the fourth. Jack Cust and Justin Smoak had solo homers, helping the Mariners to their sixth win in eight games.
Hernandez (6-4) gave up a run on five hits with two walks. It was the third time in 13 starts this season he had allowed one run or fewer.
He had a 2.27 earned run average last year while winning baseball's top pitching award. Hernandez went into Thursday's game with a 3.19 ERA.
James Shields (5-4) suffered the loss, surrendering seven runs on seven hits in four innings.
