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King Felix eyes fifth win in clash with Los Angeles Angels

Felix Hernandez tries to become the first pitcher in the American League to five wins on Monday when Seattle opens a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium.

Hernandez won his third straight start on Wednesday in Texas, as he held the Rangers to a pair of runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings to improve to 4-0 to go along with a 1.82 ERA.

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He also passed Jamie Moyer for the most innings pitched in a Mariners career at 2,095 1/3 and also struck out four batters to move within one of Johan Santana for the most strikeouts in Major League history by a Venezuelan pitcher at 1,987.

"He didn't have his best stuff, not even close," said Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon. "But he gutted it out. He's a competitor."

Hernandez hasn't fared well against the Angels, posting just a 12-13 mark with a 3.47 ERA in 41 games against the Angels.

Seattle ran into the buzzsaw known as the Houston Astros this past weekend, as the Mariners were swept in a three-game set and dropped a 7-6 decision on Sunday.

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The Mariners scored four times in the seventh inning of that one to tie the game only to see Evan Gattis put the Astros ahead with a sole home run in the eighth.

Seth Smith had three hits and scored a run for the Mariners, who were swept by the Astros in four games for the first time. Seattle starter J.A. Happ allowed six runs on seven hits and walked three over six innings.

"Today was tough for sure," said Happ. "I tried to go as long as I could and limit the damage."

Carson Smith (0-1) surrendered the eighth-inning home run to Gattis to absorb the loss. It was the first run the right-hander ever allowed in the majors. He had thrown 19 1/3 innings without giving up a run.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, was also swept this weekend, dropping all three games to the San Francisco Giants, including a 5-0 drubbing in Sunday's finale.

Jeff Weaver (0-4) saw his ERA jump to 6.29 in the loss after yet another forgettable outing. He gave up two first-inning home runs and never got back on track, allowing five runs on 10 hits over five innings.

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"We had a bad weekend," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We didn't do a lot of things we needed to do."

Getting the ball for Los Angeles on Monday will be righty Matt Shoemaker, who is 2-1 with a 6.00 ERA. Shoemaker did not get a decision on Wednesday in Oakland, as he surrendered three runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings of his team's 6-3 win.

Shoemaker is a perfect 3-0 in five games (4 starts) versus the Mariners with a 2.39 ERA in five games (4 starts).

The Angels took two of three from Seattle to start the season.

[SportsNetwork.com]

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