Mariners' Hernandez endures shortest start of season vs. Blue Jays: 'I let my team down'

The reeling Seattle Mariners hoped to gain some ground in the American Laegue wild-card race Tuesday with their ace on the mound.

Things didn't exactly go as planned.

Felix Hernandez endured his shortest start of the season Tuesday at Rogers Centre, allowing a season-high eight earned runs over 4 2/3 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays as he struggled mightily to command his pitches and further hampered his team's pursuit of a postseason berth.

Hernandez, the presumed American League Cy Young award winner, yielded one run in the opening frame before blanking the Blue Jays for three consecutive innings. The 28-year-old unraveled, however, in the fifth inning, allowing a leadoff home run to rookie Dalton Pompey before a barrage of hits and lack of command befell the right-hander.

[Courtesy: RSN]

Hernandez's ugly fifth inning included a double from Anthony Gose, a misplay on a bunted ball from Josh Thole, and a bases-loaded walk to Edwin Encarnacion. The five-time All-Star was eventually lifted after walking Pompey in his second plate appearance of the inning.