WOMBAT-Empfang » General manager Tim Bezbatchenko has la

SEATTLE -- Felix Hernandez has been on a record-setting pattern over the past three months and Seattle Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon wants to make sure it continues when it means a lot more. Hernandez (12-3) went eight innings, allowed one run, struck out eight and walked one in the Mariners 4-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves Tuesday. It was his 15th straight start -- dating back to May 18 -- in which he worked at least seven innings and allowed two runs or fewer, an on-going big-league record. Hernandez also tied Gaylord Perrys 1974 streak with Cleveland when he had 15 straight starts with at least seven innings and allowing two or fewer earned runs. Hernandez threw just 97 pitches without a lot of stressful innings. He wanted the chance at his first complete game in nearly two years but that was enough for McClendon. Fernando Rodney worked the ninth, allowed a run but earned his 31st save in 34 opportunities. "It was my decision," McClendon said. "Ill continue to do this. Ill continue to protect my players. Im trying to win meaningful games in September. I want Felix healthy and strong in September. "Im like Frank Sinatra, were doing it my way." Hernandez, who used to bluster and argue to remain in the game, said he has eased his resistance. "I appreciate that," he said. "He said, youre done. Im done." During his 15-game streak Hernandez is just 8-2. His teammates had scored just 10 runs over his previous five starts when he went 1-1 with three no-decisions. But a fourth-inning error by Braves second baseman Tommy La Stella contributed directly the Mariners go-ahead runs. With the score tie 1-all, two outs and runners on second and third, Chris Taylor popped up behind the first-base bag. La Stella camped under it, leaned back and it caromed off his glove. "I was frustrated," Taylor said. "I thought I was right on it. I just got underneath it. I knew guys were on so I wanted to get a hit. Luckily, he dropped it and I was able to get on second in scoring position." Both runners scored and Taylor advanced to second. He scored on Austin Jacksons single to left. The Braves have lost seven straight. "Its just a physical error and you cant do anything about it," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "And it did cost us those three runs that scored. Sometimes its just the way stuffs going." Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager added, "thats what youre supposed to do. When you get an opportunity you take advantage of it. We were to get two runs on that one. Then Jackson got a big hit. Four runs with Felix going, thats a good combination. Alex Wood (7-9) worked six innings, allowing five hits, just one earned run, walked four and stuck out five. "I thought he (Wood) pitched terrific," Gonzalez said. "Getting a couple runs against Felix and you just cant recover." Hernandez lowered his earned run average to a league-leading 1.97. In Interleague play, he has a 17-7 record and is 5-0 with a 1.20 ERA over his last eight starts against National League teams. He has the best ever ERA in Interleague play 2.54. HAWK TALK Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, OF Justin Upton and 3B Chris Johnson were among eight Braves personnel who visited the Seahawks training camp during Mondays off day. "I got to spend time with Coach (Pete) Carroll a little bit. That was really cool," Gonzalez said. "We talked a little philosophy afterward. Its a different shaped ball but youre still leading men, still managing people." QB Russell Wilson, who signed a minor-league deal with the Texas Rangers this year, also spent time talking with Upton and Johnson. KINGS FULL COURT Whenever Hernandez pitches at Safeco Field, yellow-shirted fans fill the third-base-side lower desk, flashing K signs and chanting when the batter has two strikes. A huge turkey leg, arriving on a silver platter, also is passed around to be consumed by the subjects. Six sections were filled Tuesday, most ever in the lower bowl. The MLB Network filmed the experience to show for a future show. TRAINERS ROOM Mariners: OF Michael Saunders (strained left oblique) was expected to go through the full array of drills to determined his fitness. He has been on the DL since July 11. "My hope is that Michael will be able to go out on (rehab) Thursday," Manager Lloyd McClendon said. Braves: SS Andrelton Simmons had to leave the game with one out in the fourth innings when he sprained his left ankle covered the third-base bag. Ramiro Pena replaced him. Simmons will be reevaluated Wednesday. Jorge De La Rosa Jersey . Ireland was the last unbeaten side in the championship after France fell to Wales on Friday, and was favoured to end a three-match losing run to England with a side with more than twice as many caps, rampant momentum, and added incentive to celebrate Brian ODriscolls world record-tying 139th test cap. Archie Bradley Jersey . Left-handed reliever Boone Logan agreed to a $16.5 million, three-year contract on Friday, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. http://www.cheapdiamondbacksjerseys.com/...oxberger-jersey. Players suspended during the season for a performance-enhancing drug violation will not be eligible for that years post-season. In addition, discipline will increase from 50 games to 80 for a first testing violation and from 100 games to a season-long 162 for a second. A third violation remains a lifetime ban. Yasmany Tomas Jersey .Y. - Peyton Manning made his fifth MVP award a family affair. Wholesale Diamondbacks Jerseys . - Olympic champion Marielle Thompson accomplished her mission of defending her skicross World Cup title at Nakiska Ski Area on Saturday.TORONTO -- General manager Tim Bezbatchenko has laid out his vision for Toronto FC, with an emphasis on analytics and science off the pitch and developing depth and young talent on it. In a speech Sunday at a barbecue for season ticket-holders at the clubs training centre, Bezbatchenko said the MLS clubs transformation is an ongoing process. But he also suggested that improvements were sorely needed. He said the team, currently seventh in the Eastern Conference with a 9-11-7 record, had drafted poorly in the past and overtrained this season, leading to injuries. The decision to fire manager Ryan Nelsen on Aug. 31 was because the club has vision and values "and we hold people accountable to them," he said. "For whatever reason, the team had stopped playing," he said. "Sometimes you have to make difficult decisions, you have to make bold decisions ... We couldnt wait any longer." The 32-year-old GM said the club has created a department of cognitive science, to help young players "speed of processing" on the pitch among other things. The franchise has also made its scouting department independent of coaches. "That has never happened here before," he said. He said that will help create a regular database and ensure that information or contacts arent lost when a coach leaves. The club is also committed to analytics, he said, with databases set up over the last year. "Now were looking to apply it in the area of cap management, the area of scouting and sports science and nutrition," he said. "Making sure that our players are not susceptible to injury because of overttraining as youve seen this year.dddddddddddd" Bezbatchenko said he expected the salary cap to rise US$1 million to $4 million after the next collective bargain agreement, allowing for more player investment. And ay money from players sales will be reinvested, he said. There have been question-marks over the future of star striker Jermain Defoe in recent weeks with the club turning down a franchise-record offer at the closing of the last transfer window. "If we end up selling a player no matter who it is, that money will be invested back into the team for either designated players or a facility or something that will improve the team," Bezbatchenko said. "Thats my commitment to you." The GM pointed to youth development as one of the pillars for the club, saying it is needed to develop a solid core of players. "Its having the talent that can withstand injuries," he said. Toronto players have missed more a combined 80-plus games through injury this season. Bezbatchenko said the club wants to double the number of players that have graduated from its academy over the next three years and double the number of players on the roster that were drafted by the club. Currently the club only has three players it has drafted on it roster from its eight-year history: Daniel Lovitz, Nick Hagglund and Kyle Bekker. "Frankly that is unacceptable," said Bezbatchenko. Bezbatchenko also said the club is committed to improving the BMO Field experience, with stadium renovations including high-end premium areas. The club is looking to add a feeder team in the USL Pro league, he said. ' ' '