"Adam Kennedy hit a home run over the right field fence. Also, the career second baseman played first base as if he'd been there his entire life.

Felix Hernandez, as has become customary around these parts, handled most of the rest.

The Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics will never be mistaken for offensive juggernauts. And both squads have capable pitching staffs, so Thursday's 1-0 win for Seattle was only surprising in that the Mariners won it.

Should you be shocked by A's starter Brandon McCarthy, who threw a complete game and held the Mariners to just one run on four hits? Probably not. McCarthy entered the game with a 2.45 ERA in X starts, and the Mariners had four regulars in Thursday's lineup - excluding young Carlos Peguero, recalled from Tacoma on Tuesday - who entered the game with batting averages below .200.

Nor should you be blown away that Hernandez baffled Oakland hitters for another 7 2/3 innings, notching his second quality start against the Athletics this month. He allowed two earned runs in a complete-game effort on opening night in Oakland.

Surprising? Not really, though it had been since that opener that he had truly dominated a game. Impressive? You bet.

"He's a stud," said Mariners reliever Jamey Wright. "He's fun to watch. He's SO good."

This was Hernandez at his Cy Young best, winning for the first time at Safeco Field this season while allowing just four hits and lowering his ERA from 4.33 to 3.38.

"Breaking pitches were pretty good," said Hernandez, determined to break a string of mediocre outings. "My slider's coming back.""