Mariners 7, Padres 1: Felix Hernandez tossed eight superb innings and rookie Nick Franklin hit two of Seattle’s five home runs as the visiting Mariners split a two-city, four-game interleague set with San Diego.
Franklin, who was called up from Triple-A Tacoma earlier in the week, hit a solo shot in the sixth and another in the eighth to make it 7-1. Kendrys Morales and Brendan Ryan also had solo homers and Endy Chavez added a two-run blast after Hernandez had drawn a one-out walk in the seventh.
Hernandez (6-4) allowed a run on just three singles while striking out six to win for the first time in four starts. He improved to 5-0 with a 1.54 ERA in six career starts at Petco Park.
Padres starter Andrew Cashner (4-3) gave up three of Seattle’s homers, a career high for the one-time reliever, and was charged with four runs in six frames. Carlos Quentin had the lone RBI for San Diego with a sacrifice fly in the fourth.
Ryan’s homer and Morales’ RBI single made it 3-0 in the third and Franklin sent his first homer over the center-field wall in the sixth for a 4-1 advantage. The rookie, who took the place of struggling Dustin Ackley, also yanked a Tim Stauffer offering over the wall in right in the eighth as the Mariners snapped a seven-game road losing streak.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Hernandez’s walk was the second of his career and his first since 2009. His last run scored also came in 2009. … Franklin hit .324 with four homers in 39 games for Tacoma. … Seattle continues its road trip at Minnesota on Friday. San Diego stays home to host Toronto.
