ERST LESEN! » win the game, but we cant be too cavalier.

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. Cheap Nike Air Max Australia . Rinne had surgery on his left hip May 9 and recovered in time to start the season. He then had arthroscopic surgery on Oct. 24 because of a bacterial infection in his hip. Air Max 270 Mens Sale Australia . “Momentum is only as good as the next days starter,” the long-time Baltimore Orioles manager famously quipped. http://www.outletairmaxaustralia.com/air-max-zero-buy-australia.html . -- C.J. Wilson parked his car and laughed while signing autographs for faceless fans who handed bats, balls and cards to the pitcher from the other side of a brick wall. Nike Air Max Wholesale .Y. -- The Buffalo Bills have fired receivers coach Ike Hilliard. Cheap Real Off White Nike Shoes .com) - Jimmie Johnson won Sundays AAA Texas 500 while championship contenders Jeff Gordon and Brad Keselowski as well as their teams were involved in a post-race fight on pit road after the two clashed in the closing laps at Texas Motor Speedway.TORONTO - Toronto FCs season may be in the balance but the teams pulse seemed very steady ahead of what coach Greg Vanney called the most important match of the year.Toronto visits the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, with maximum points needed. Anything else wont result in playoff elimination but the already slim chance of advancing will dwindle.Toronto (11-13-7) stands sixth, three points behind Columbus which currently holds down the fifth and last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Columbus (11-10-10) plays at eighth-place Philadelphia (9-10-12) on Saturday.Vanney said his players are embracing the challenge, rather than seeing their backs against the wall.They firmly believe that they can go to New York and win the game, as do I, Vanney said Friday before getting on the plane.I think the group believes in what we have and what were doing, he added. I think were quite frankly looking forward at this challenge.We know how important it is, added captain Steven Caldwell. We need to roll our sleeves up, be men and come away with the victory.Of course the same could be said for Wednesday, when Toronto ran into a hot goalie in Tyler Deric and squandered a pile of scoring chances in a costly 1-0 loss to the visiting Houston Dynamo. Toronto could not take advantage of a penalty or extra man after Dynamo defender A.J. Cochran was sent off with 35 minutes remaining.We kind of dug ourselves in a hole when we didnt get a result against Houston, said Ghanaian midfielder-forward Dominic Oduro.To me, thats no pressure, he added. We just have to go out there and execute.With three games remaining, Toronto desperately needs to collect as many of the nine available points left as possible.If we can do our job and win (Saturday), we set ourselves up in a pretty good way as we come home again (to host Montreal), said Vanney. And then well see where were at and what we need as we go to New England for the final match.But those two matches dont mean anything until we get something out of (Saturday).A loss Saturday would put Toronto on playoff life support. A tie and the team would be watching other results with fingers crossed.Even with a win Saturday, it needs other teams to falter to keep its playoff dream alive. Five points separate teams No. 4 through No. 8 in the Eastern Conference with Toronto in the middle at No. 6.Vanney sees more than light at the end of the tunnel. He said if TFC makes the post-season, I dont think anyone would want to play our team because we continue, I think, to grow as a group week in and week out, day in and day out. While Toronto looks to stay alive in the playoff hunt, the Red Bulls (11-9-11) hoppe to book their ticket to the post-season.dddddddddddd They can qualify with a win over Toronto and a Houston tie or loss to D.C. United on Saturday.Toronto has lost two straight via shutout with the Houston setback following a 3-0 defeat in Los Angeles against the Galaxy.New York sits fourth in the Eastern Conference and has lost just once in its last six (4-1-1).Sporting Kansas City, the New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas can also book their post-season tickets with the right combination of weekend results. Philadelphia and Houston could be eliminated.New York will be without star midfielder Tim Cahill (Australia) and defenders Roy Miller (Costa Rica) and Ambroise Oyongo (Cameroon), all away on international duty.Congo striker Peguy Luyindula is suspended for the game, the result of a scissors tackle on Houstons Luis Garrido.Toronto has Doneil Henry, Manny Aparacio and Quillan Roberts in camp with Canada, which plays Colombia on Tuesday at Red Bulls Arena. None is a starter, however. Toronto teenage striker Jordan Hamilton, on loan to a Portuguese second-tier team, is also in the Canadian camp.New York has won six straight at Red Bull Arena and is unbeaten there in its last nine matches (7-0-2) including a 2-2 draw with Toronto on June 27. The Red Bulls have not lost at home since May 24.Toronto won 2-0 at BMO Field on May 17 in the teams other meeting this season.The Red Bulls hope to make some noise en route to the playoffs. English striker Bradley Wright-Phillips, who leads the MLS with 24 goals, is after the league single-season scoring record of 27 set by Roy Lassiter (1996)and Chris Wondolowski (2012).Vanney said the best defence is a good offence. But he also knows the squad cannot throw caution to the wind, with Wright-Phillips and Thierry Henry lurking in attack.We have to go out there, we have to be bold, said Caldwell. We have to be attack-minded to win the game, but we cant be too cavalier. Theres a right mix.Vanney has a full squad at his disposal. Brazilian striker Gilberto, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring issue, is part of the travelling squad but Vanney appears to be leaning towards sticking with an all-English strike force of Jermain Defoe and Luke Moore.Fullback Justin Morrow, limping after rolling an ankle Wednesday, is also available to play. Notes: Vanney expects star midfielder Michael Bradley to join the U.S. squad after the Red Bulls game for the Americans friendly Tuesday against Honduras in Boca Raton, Fla. ... Look for Oduro to add some pink to his ever-changing mohawk, to honour breast cancer awareness month.———Follow @NeilMDavidson ' ' '