Mariners notebook: Felix Hernandez OK after dizzy spell; moves coming

CHICAGO – Felix Hernandez came up big for the Mariners on Friday night against the White Sox. With a short and taxed bullpen, he knew he had to give the team innings. And with a three-game losing streak and the clock ticking on the Mariners’ chances to gain ground in the Wild Card chase, he knew his team needed a win.

He got off to a good start, allowing a single and a walk but suffering no damage in his first two innings. Before the start of the third, however, there was the disconcerting sight of Felix standing between the dugout and the baseline with manager Scott Servais, pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr., catcher Mike Zunino, a trainer and umpire surrounding him. After a minute or so he walked out to the hill with the trainer and threw a couple of warmup pitches. After the third he waved the trainer off and resumed his game.

“I don’t know what happened,” Hernandez said after the game. “Everything went black, and I didn’t feel my legs. I felt a little dizzy and then it went away. It happened before, I think I was too amped. I had a few Red Bulls, I think that was it.”

Felix said that he realized the importance of the game going in.

“I know I was facing (White Sox ace Chris) Sale, he’s a great pitcher. I think it’s going to be a tough game. The bullpen was a little tired and I need to go deep in the game that was on my mind and went out and I did my job.”

It was the fourth straight game that Felix surrendered two runs or less. The White Sox threatened to tack on more runs by loading the bases with just one out in the eighth inning, but four pitches from Edwin Diaz and one highlight-reel barehand play on a slow roller to get the lead runner at home kept any additional runs off of Felix’s record.

“(Shawn) O’Malley made a great play, Diaz was great too,” said Felix. “I was a little confident giving it to him because (Diaz is) tough. He’s got pretty good stuff, nasty slider, great fastball. I was not worried about it.”

The Mariners got the much needed win and gained a spot in the Wild Card standings. Now they look ahead.

Moves coming

The matchup going into the Friday’s game was not good with the Mariners short on right-handed bats and in the bullpen, and to that end we will see moves made Saturday. Nori Aoki and Mike Freeman will be optioned back to Triple-A, and there is a good chance that we see at least one reliever placed on the DL. Scott Servais limited Tom Wilhelmsen to one inning Thursday night because of a bad back. Wilhelmsen was not moving well in the clubhouse Friday afternoon. The Mariners will add a power reliever from Double-A Jackson in Dan Altavilla (a converted starter like Diaz) and most likely one other reliever. If anyone is placed on the DL, Dae-Ho Lee will take that spot. Lee is not eligible to return before Sept. 2 without a DL move.