BERNIE WILSON
AP Sports Writer
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Felix Hernandez is still a king at Petco Park even if his Seattle Mariners didn’t win Wednesday night.
Hernandez pitched well enough to win, although his wild pitch tied a game the Mariners eventually lost 2-1.
Hernandez struck out 10 and allowed only three singles in seven innings, with no walks. He remains 5-0 lifetime at Petco Park with a 1.51 ERA.
“It was a tough game for the Seattle Mariners, not just Felix. Those things happen,” manager Lloyd McClendon said.
“They had their best guy on the mound and we had our best guy on the mound. It was one of those games where we knew it was going to be close.”
San Diego starter Andrew Cashner also pitched well, allowing one run and seven hits in seven innings. He struck out two and walked two.
Pinch-hitter Tommy Medica singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning for the Padres, who were playing their first home game since Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn died of cancer Monday.
The light-hitting Padres honored Gwynn before the game and then cobbled together just enough offense for their second win in 10 games.
Everth Cabrera started the winning rally by beating out an infield single on a chopper against Charlie Furbush (0-4). Cabrera was sacrificed over by Alexi Amarista and scored on Medica’s liner to center. James Jones’ throw home was late and off line.
It was the most runs the Padres have scored in four games. They had lost three straight, including two in Seattle.
Joaquin Benoit (3-0) pitched a perfect eighth. Huston Street worked the ninth for his 19th save in as many chances.
Mark Martinez, Gwynn’s top assistant at San Diego State, threw the ceremonial first pitch to Padres manager Bud Black, who was a teammate of Gwynn’s for one season with the Aztecs. The Padres players and coaches then gathered around a large No. 19 painted on the grass in right field, which was Gwynn’s number and position, for a 19-second moment of silence.
Hernandez allowed a leadoff single to Seth Smith in the first and then retired the next 15 batters until Amarista beat out an infield single. Cashner sacrificed Amarista, who took third on Smith’s groundout and scored on Hernandez’s wild pitch to tie the game at 1.
“It was a changeup and I threw it too hard,” Hernandez said. “That was a tough loss for us. I missed a lot of pitches.”
The Mariners took a 1-0 lead in the second when Mike Zunino was hit by a pitch, took third on Dustin Ackley’s single and scored on Brad Miller’s single.
NOTES: The Padres are wearing a patch with No. 19 inside a home plate logo on their jerseys, over the players’ hearts. They’re wearing a JC star patch to honor Hall of Fame broadcaster Jerry Coleman, who died Jan. 5 at 89. … The Padres have scheduled a public tribute to Gwynn for June 26 at Petco Park starting at 7:19 p.m., symbolic because Gwynn made his Padres debut on July 19, 1982. … Seattle DH Corey Hart (strained left hamstring) and OF Michael Saunders (right AC joint inflammation) are expected to come off the DL on Friday. … The series concludes Thursday afternoon when Seattle RHP Erasmo Ramirez (1-4, 5.27) is scheduled to oppose RHP Jesse Hahn (1-1, 3.72).
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