King Felix battles through 5 1/3 innings in potential final start for Mariners

It may be the end of an era in Seattle after Felix Hernandez threw what might have been his final pitch as a member of the Mariners on Thursday night against the Oakland Athletics.

Both Hernandez and the Mariners' fans were aware of the significance of the evening, sharing a touching moment ahead of his first pitch.

Before the game, manager Scott Servais said it was an emotional day at T-Mobile Park.

"Mixed, I guess is the best way to put it," Servais said, according to Greg Johns of MLB.com. "Certainly hoping he has a good night, throws the ball well, strikes out a few guys - would be great. Kind of what he's done a lot of his career.

"He's been such a big part of this organization for so long that you want him to go out on a high note. I know he'll be fired up tonight and give us a great effort, like he always does, and compete as well as he can."

Hernandez had a shaky start, throwing 30 pitches in the opening frame. He allowed a two-run homer to Matt Chapman in the second, and it looked like he wouldn't be around for long.

But the 33-year-old settled down, retiring nine straight batters and escaping a bases-loaded jam in the fifth when Dylan Moore made a ridiculous catch to end the frame.

Altogether, Hernandez allowed three runs on five hits while striking out three on 106 pitches over 5 1/3 innings of work in the 418th start of his career.

A six-time All-Star, Hernandez won the AL Cy Young Award in 2010, going 13-12 with a 2.27 ERA and 1.057 WHIP while pitching 249 2/3 innings.

Though he's a free agent at the end of the season, Hernandez could still re-sign with the team he's played for since making his MLB debut as a 19-year-old in 2005.

If this is indeed goodbye, he walks away a Mariners legend.