After throwing a perfect game and putting together a phenomenal month on the mound, Felix Hernandez was named American League Pitcher of the Month on Tuesday afternoon.
The Mariners' right-hander went 4-0 in five starts in the month of August with a 1.08 ERA in 41-2/3 innings, and his perfect game against the Rays on Aug. 15 was the first in Mariners franchise history. He held opponents to a .137 batting average in those five starts, three of his four wins were 1-0 shutouts, and the only blemish on an otherwise perfect month might have been a no-decision against the Los Angeles Angels in which he gave up four runs and five hits over seven innings.
This marks the third time that Hernandez has been selected as AL Pitcher of the Month, as he received the honor in June and September of 2009, and means back-to-back honors for the Mariners starting rotation, as left-hander Jason Vargas was named AL Pitcher of the Month in July.
Hernandez's next start will come Friday, Sept. 7 at Safeco Field against the AL West leading Oakland A's.
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