The Sporting News Wednesday named Felix Hernandez the starting pitcher on its 2014 American League All-Star team. Hernandez went 15-6 with a league-best 2.14 ERA and had 27 quality starts in 34 outings. King Felix was the only Mariner selected as Houston’s Jose Altuve beat out Robinson Cano at second base and former Mariner Adrian Beltre of Texas edged Kyle Seager at third.
In addition to winning the second ERA crown of his career with the lowest mark by an AL pitcher since Pedro Martinez’s 1.74 in 2000, Hernandez led the league in opponent batting average ERA (.200), tied for first in starts (34), finished second in innings (236.0), fourth in strikeouts (248), fifth in strikeouts-to-walk ratio (5.39) and strikeouts per nine innings (9.46), and T8 in wins (15).
During a stretch from May 18-Aug. 11, Hernandez set a major league record with 16 consecutive starts allowing two or fewer runs in at least seven innings. The record was 13 by Tom Seaver in 1971.
Hernandez is the only pitcher to record 200 strikeouts in each of the last six seasons (since 2009).
The Sporting News AL All-Star team: C: Salvadore Perez, Royals; 1B: Jose Abreu, White Sox; 2B: Altuve, Astros; SS: Erick Aybar, Angels; 3B: Beltre, Rangers; OF Mike Trout, Angels; OF: Michael Brantley, Indians; Jose Bautista, Blue Jays; DH: Victor Martinez, Tigers; Relief Pitcher: Dellin Betances, Yankees.
Betances won reliever the nod over Seattle’s Fernando Rodney. Betances went 5-0 with a 1.40 ERA in 70 appearances. Rodney saved an AL-high 48 games.
