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SEATTLE -- Even in the middle of his best outing this season and coming within one out of his first complete game since August 2012, Felix Hernandez took notice of the stadium radar gun flashing numbers in the mid-90s when his fastball cracked the glove. Cheap Stan Smith Shoes . "Ive still got it," Seattles ace said with a sly grin. Riding that fastball carrying a little more zip, Hernandez took a shutout bid into the ninth inning as the Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-1 on Wednesday night. On the verge of a brilliant shutout and first complete game since Aug. 27, 2012 against Minnesota, Hernandez couldnt get the 27th out. He gave up a two-out single to Mike Trout and an RBI double to Albert Pujols that took away the shutout and the complete game and caused Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon to turn to his closer. Still, the effort by Hernandez (7-1) continued a dominant run. He won his fourth consecutive start and became the seventh pitcher in Mariners history with seven victories before June 1. In those last four starts, Hernandez has allowed eight earned runs in 31 1-3 innings with 30 strikeouts. He now has a 57-7 record in his career when pitching at least eight innings. "I think were all getting accustomed to how hes been throwing. Hes just coming out and establishing the fastball early and going to his off speed pitches when he needs to," Seattle catcher Mike Zunino said. Providing the offence behind Hernandezs gem was Zunino, who homered and drove in all of Seattles runs. He gave the Mariners the lead with a two-out, two-run single in the second and led off the eighth with a home run off C.J. Wilson (6-4). Wilson was nearly the equal of Hernandez. Also trying to get his seventh win, Wilson allowed just five hits and struck out five before getting lifted with two outs in the eighth. Five of Zuninos seven homers this season have come in Hernandez starts. But he was more pleased with the single in the second inning that scored Justin Smoak and Kyle Seager. "When you can do that with two outs and put the team on the board early and see some pitches, that was the biggest thing for me and gave you confidence as the game went on," Zunino said. Hernandez cruised through the eighth, still hitting the mid-90s mph on the stadium radar gun and closed the inning striking out Hank Conger. There was very little discussion with McClendon and Hernandez jogged from the dugout to start the ninth to a big ovation having allowed just two hits. He struck out Collin Cowgill swinging and retired Howie Kendrick on a fly ball. But Trout and Pujols wouldnt let Hernandez finish it off. He struck out nine and walked two. Closer Fernando Rodney entered and got David Freese to line out for his 13th save of the season. "He was strong. He felt great. Its just tough there, you have to weigh the players but also what is good for the team," McClendon said. "I had my closer up and he was ready to go so we thought it was the best matchup." Hernandez struck out five of the first nine batters by changing up his game plan. He relied more on his fastball early and went to off speed pitches later in the game. Kendrick ended any thoughts of another special night from Hernandez with a solid single leading off the fourth. Trout then walked, but Hernandez skirted the jam thanks to Zunino throwing out Kendrick trying to steal third and Freeses strikeout. The only other hit before the ninth was Erick Aybars single in the fifth. "We really didnt get a chance to pressure him much and the couple of times we did we couldnt get the runs across," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. NOTES: Matt Shoemaker will start Thursdays series finale for the Angels. He was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake after LHP Sean Burnett tore a ligament in his pitching elbow in Tuesdays game. LHP Wade LeBlanc, the original starter, will now work out of the bullpen. ... Seattle RHP Taijuan Walker (shoulder) made his first rehab start at Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday night and threw three innings, giving up five hits, four earned runs and striking out three. He threw 61 pitches. Cheap Adidas Stan Smith Sale . General Manager Sam Presti said the three-time All-Star had knee swelling that would not subside, and the procedure was intended to solve the problem. He said doctors determined that a loose stitch was to blame for the swelling, that Westbrooks lateral meniscus has healed properly and the procedure was successful. Stan Smith Clearance . 5 Trade Deadline isnt that far away and teams will be making decisions on whether to buy, sell and decide which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. http://www.cheapstansmith.us/ . A-Rod is also disqualified from any post-season play. So at the tender age of 38, he will miss all of next season. As a result of missing the coming season, hes also out $25 million (which coincidentally is my hourly rate).LAS VEGAS -- Hungry. Obsessed. Driven. Professional. The epitome of a champion. UFC president Dana White was full of praise Thursday in summing up welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, who looks to extend his MMA legacy this weekend with a win over Johny (Bigg Rigg) Hendricks at UFC 167. "When youre as rich as Georges St-Pierre is, to stay that mentally tough and to keep having the drive and the passion to win that he does, thats what separates him from all the rest," White told reporters Thursday. Asked how rich the 32-year-old fighter from Montreal was, White replied: "Hes rich. Hes very rich." And White knows rich. The UFC boss travels in a world of private jets, big bets, fast cars and the finest restaurants. Saturdays payday will likely help further pad the GSP retirement fund. St-Pierre, the organizations biggest pay-per-view draw, is likely to earn several times over the US$2 million that Zuffa paid to purchase an ailing UFC back in 2001. White has his favourites and villains in his roster of fighters past and present. Former light-heavyweight Chuck (The Iceman) Liddell is like family. Tito Ortiz, another former title-holder, was oil to Whites water. But his tribute to St-Pierre, in a lengthy scrum of reporters after the pre-fight news conference Thursday, was unparalleled. "Hes an absolute professional," White said. "No matter how dominant hes been over the last however many years, he still takes guys seriously, he still puts in the hard work. Hes a dedicated professional." White also said St-Pierre was easy to work with outside the cage. If the champion has an issue, he just picks up the phone and they hash it out. "Theres no ego with Georges St-Pierre ... Nobody has been easier and more professional to work with than Georges St-Pierre." The champion has surrounded himself with good people, he added, "There are no barnacles on that kids back. That kid is his own man. he does his own thing." And White seemed to marvel as the Canadian champions pursuit of excellence. "The thing that makes this whole thing work, this whole machine is hunger and drive ... To still have that drive and that desire to win is what sets him apart from all the rest." White was one of the early booster of St-Pierre. "In my opinion, Georges St-Pierre is the most talented fighter on the planet right now," the UFC president said in February 2006 before UFC 58. "The Canadian people ought be all over him, man. The kid is good-looking, charismatic, an unbelievable fighter, one of the nicest human beings you could ever hope to meet. Im surprised he doesnt have major blue-chip sponsors here in Canada, because people are really starting to notice him in the U.S. "It doesnt matter wheres he from," White added. "Hes a star, hes a UFC star." White has also been critical. After St-Pierre was beaten in his first title defence, at UFC 69 in April 2007, the UFC boss questioned his mental strength, "After watching that Matt Serra fight, I question Georges St. Pierres mental ability to fight." St-Pierre (24-2) has not lost since and has long put that criticism to rest. On Thursday, as Hendricks drove himself to distraction over pre-fight bickering concerning additional drug tests, St-Pierre smiled and politely answered all questionns on the topic. Adidas Stan Smith Discount. In response to Hendricks sly claim that the champion wasnt as big as he used to be, St-Pierre -- speaking in French -- turned the accusation into a testimonial for his fitness DVD RushFit. He looked every part a champion, in an elegant suit and tie. Hendricks wore a garish yellow/lime green T-shirt under a black baseball cap. White noted how St-Pierre looked on the televised preview show for UFC 167 -- his nose split and face bruised from training. "Eyes so black that it actually looks like he has black eye-liner across his eye. Thats a guy whos busting his ass in the gym every day, Thats the guy whos doing everything it takes to win another title defence." These days St-Pierre is on a quest to keep adding his name to the UFC record book. He can make history by winning Saturday, becoming the first fighter to record 19 wins in the UFC. The Canadian champion is currently tied with UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes, whom he first beat for the title, at 18 victories. GSP is also tied with former middleweight champion Anderson Silva for most wins in UFC title bouts at 11. And if the Hendricks fight lasts 40 seconds or longer, St-Pierre will surpass B.J. Penns record of five hours three minutes and 51 seconds for career fight time in the UFC. St-Pierre already holds the mark for most championship rounds fought (47). He has already set UFC records for significant strikes landed (1,153), total strikes landed (2,398), takedowns landed (84), and takedown accuracy rate (75 per cent), according to FightMetric. St-Pierre has controlled his opponent for two hours 35 minutes 57 seconds in the cage, using the top position on the ground to punish or finish opponents. Those records date back to UFC 28, the first event to use the unified rules of mixed martial arts. The total fight time record dates back to UFC 1. St-Pierre is also chasing other records. A win Saturday would be both GSPs ninth successful title defence and ninth straight title defence, one behind Silva in each category. It will be his 14th championship fight, one behind Randy Couture. For his part, St-Pierre says he will savour such records when he is older. There is still work to do. White believes GSP is after Silvas records. "Georges isnt the kind of guy that talks about that stuff, but I believe if you look at the type of guy that he is and what hes accomplished, I think thats what hes doing." St-Pierre has already taken care of key business, avenging his only two losses. He defeated Hughes twice (at UFC 65 and UFC 79) after tapping out to an armbar at UFC 50 in October 2004. And after losing his first title defence to Serra at UFC 69, he won the crown back a year later at UFC 83. After losing his title to Serra, a sports psychologist suggested he threw a brick with Serras name on it into the chilly water off Montreals South Shore to symbolize getting the title loss -- and Serra -- off his back. So he did. He revamped his training staff and management and has never looked back. GSP, who underwent knee surgery in December 2011 after a training injury during wrestling, is currently riding an 11-fight win streak -- the longest current run in the UFC. White marvelled at such an unbeaten run. "Especially when you are the champion. All the best in the world are gunning at you. All the time." ' ' '