The Seattle Mariners have started the 2011 major league baseball season with a 6-2 win at Oakland over the hosting Athletics. Mariner ace Felix Hernandez threw the first season opening complete game in team history. After a shaky first inning when he gave up a home run to A’s new cleanup hitter, Josh Willingham, Hernandez was strong though the rest of the game – not giving up any more runs and only allowing 5 hits in the game.
Mariner third baseman Chone Figgins came up big and homered in the sixth, giving the M’s the lead for good at 3-2. M’s all-star lead off man Ichiro Suzuki went 2 for 4 with a walk , rbi, run scored and two stolen bases. Catcher Miguel Olivo caught a nice game and went 2-5 with a walk, rbi and scored a run.
Center fielder Ryan Langerhans and Milton Bradley both had tough openers. Langerhans went 0-5 with 4 strikeouts and Milton went 0-4 with a walk. Mariner fans are hoping they bounce back tomorrow and contribute to an offensive barrage.