The month has not been kind to Felix Hernandez, who's started five times, posted a 2.45 earned run average in 33 innings and won once.

No decisions aainst the Rays, White Sox and Tigers were followed by a loss to the Indians, and the Mariners offense has been no where to be seen for Felix.

Tonight, a new lineup with Franklin Gutierrez leading off, and the combo of Josh Wilson, Ryan Langerhans and Rob Johnson at the back end.

Six of the nine men in the lneup don't yet have 25 RBI for the season.

Pitch well, young man.

It's Felix vs. Brian Bannister.

Mariners speed!

Like all good rallies, this one began with a bunt single - from Russell Branyan!
Mike Sweeney singled behind him, and a wild pitch moved both runners up a base.

Bill Hall grounded out for an RBI, getting Sweeney to third base.

Josh Wilson tapped back to the mound, but as Bannister threw to first for the out, Sweeney broke for the plate - and his head first slide beat the tag.

After two: Mariners 2, Royals 0

One for the umps

Josh Anderson singled, then stole second base, although replays showed conclusively that Anderson was tagged out. It happens.

David DeJesus doubled Anderson home.

With DeJesus in scoring position and no one out, Felix struck out Mitch Maier, got Billy Butler on a ground ball and Mike Jacobs on a fly ball.

That's pitching.

In the third: Mariners 2, Royals 1

No hits, one run

Gutierrez walked, stole second base and took third on a wild pith. Jose Lopez grounded to third - right under the glove of Mark Teahan - and Gutierrez scored.

There's a reason the Royals have lost 78 games.

After three: Mariners 3, Royals 1

Hey, it's an offense!

The rejuvenated Sweeney, playing like he was 33 again, singled and took third base on Hall's double.

Josh-not-Jack Wilson singled both home and, though he still doesn't have 25 RBI this year, now has three tonight.

After four: Mariners 5, Royals 1

KC can score, too

Two-out single by DeJesus set up Mitch Maier's second home run - a shot into the right field seats.

In the fifth: Mariners 5, Royals 3

Branyan goes down

First baseman Branyan, the club leader in home runs wih 31, left the game in the fifth inning after 'tweaking' his back on a checked swing.

He'll be re-evaluated by the medical staff tomorrow.

Felix, meanwhile, has pitched six innings and thrown 95 pitches. It appears he'll come back for the seventh.

Sweeney strikes again!

Seattle loaded the bases on two-out singles by Hannahan and Lopez and a walk to Michael Saunders.

Sweeney - who says he likes to 'ambush pitchers before they ambush me' - worked the count full against Kyle Farnsworth, then walked to force home a run.

Felix is done for the night. On in relief: Sean White.

After seven: Mariners 6, Royals 3

And in the ninth

Sean White pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and David Aardsma took the ball in the ninth inning.
Aardsma's 31st save - the ninth highest single-season total in franchise history - preserved Felix's 13th win, and his first since Aug. 1.

That's a career high in wins for Mr. Hernandez, and the 67th of the season for the Mariners.

It's a final: Mariners 6, Royals 3

Ichiro is working in the outfield as this is being written, but he won't be in tonight's lineup.

Adrian Beltre is eligible to come off the disabled list today, but apparently won't. And Josh-not-Jack Wilson is starting at shortstop despit Jack-not-Josh Wilson's two-hit night Thursday.

Here's who will be playing:
Franklin Gutierrez CF
Jack Hannahan 3B
Jose Lopez 2B
Russell Branyan 1B
Mike Sweeney DH
Bill Hall RF
Josh Wilson SS
Ryan Langerhans LF
Rob Johnson C
Felix Hernandez RHP