This was not how Felix Hernandez hoped to start spring training.
Slowed by injuries last year, the Seattle ace was struck in his pitching arm by a line drive Monday and left his exhibition debut early.
The Mariners said a precautionary X-ray of his right forearm was negative. Hernandez was listed as day-today and will be re-evaluated Tuesday.
Hernandez was hit by a liner from Victor Caratini of the Chicago Cubs. The 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner immediately grabbed his arm and didn’t chase the ball on the infield grass.
Hernandez went down to a knee, hopped up and walked around in obvious pain. He headed to the dugout with a trainer holding his arm, and Caratini gave him a tap of encouragement.
ASTROS (SS) 8, METS 7
Noah Syndergaard and Justin Verlander provided the first real pitchers’ duel of the spring. Syndergaard threw 11 pitches of at least 100 mph over two perfect innings, striking out two. Syndergaard, who missed five months of the 2017 season with a strained lat, matched his longest outing in a big league game since April 20, 2017.
Verlander struck out four of the six batters he faced. Hector Rondon gave up four runs on four hits in just two-thirds of an inning. Houston prospects Kyle Tucker and J.D. Davis each hit their second home runs of the spring.
RED SOX 13, PIRATES 2
Andrew Benintendi scored twice and Rafael Devers got two hits for Boston. Pittsburgh starter Ivan Nova struggled, but Jameson Taillon pitched two shutout innings and struck out three.
MARLINS 11, ASTROS (SS) 0
Miami starter Jose Urena gave up one hit in two innings. Houston starter Francis Martes allowed three runs and three hits in 1 1/3 innings.
TWINS 5, CARDINALS 4
Minnesota starter Phil Hughes allowed one hit in two innings. Erick Aybar got two hits for the Twins.
Michael Wacha threw two hitless innings for St. Louis.
RAYS 7, BLUE JAYS 4
Chris Archer started off with two shutout innings for Tampa Bay, fanning two. Toronto shortstop Lourdes Gurriel, the 24-year-old Cuban-born brother of Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel, had two hits.
BRAVES 2, NATIONALS 1
Julio Teheran threw two scoreless innings for Atlanta. Rex Brothers got the save but gave up a home run to Moises Sierra in the ninth.
TIGERS 8, ORIOLES 6
Baltimore starter Kevin Gausman was tagged for five runs and six hits in 1 1/3 innings. He also collided with Detroit’s on-deck batter while backing up a play at the plate and left the game to be checked for a concussion.
YANKEES 4, PHILLIES 3
Sonny Gray tossed two shutout innings for New York. Third base prospect Miguel Andujar hit an RBI double and a game-winning home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
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