King Felix Not sharp In Return, M’s Rally In Extra Innings to Win

Mariners ace Felix Hernandez made his first appearance in over seven weeks today but the signs of rust became evident early on in a 6-5 win in 11 innings  to the Chicago White Sox in a Wednesday matinee`.
Leonys Martin hit a walkoff homer, his second dinger of the day to lift the M's to a game above .500 on the season at 48-47 in the rubber match of the three games series with the Southsiders.

After striking out the first batter he faced, Hernandez got into a beef with home plate umpire Andy Fletcher in the very first inning in his return at SafeCo Field regarding balls and strikes en route to giving up a double, walking a batter and then surrendering a three-run bomb off of the bat of Todd Frazier.

The Sox tacked on another run in the second despite Hernandez wiggling out of a jam.

Seattle closed the gap in the bottom half of the second inning when Leonys Martin jacked his 12th HR of the season, a two-run job that made it 4-2 at the time. Recently recalled catcher Mike Zunino homered with Adam Lind on base to make it 5-4 Chicago and Lind then followed with a big fly of his own to tie the score in the eighth at fives.

Catcher Mike Zunino along with outfielder Nori Aoki were also both recalled from AAA Tacoma. To make room for Hernandez, coming off his stint on the Disabled List, the Mariners relief pitcher David Rollins, catcher Jesus Sucre and outfielder Daniel Robertson back down to the minors.

The Mariners have the day off tomorrow before embarking on a eight game road trip that begins in Toronto and ends in Chicago with a stop in Pittsburgh.