Mariners’ Felix Hernandez, wearing walking boot, discusses his calf injury

Two things were noticeable on Felix Hernandez as he sat in the chair in front of his locker in the clubhouse at Safeco Field. On top of his head, they dyed blond locks were in corn rows. This apparently happened this weekend. But more importantly, on his right leg, was a walking boot. This is something he was ordered to do by team doctors.

It’s not to help the area where he strained his right calf. He pointed to the outside of his lower leg, near the back of his knee, saying “the strain goes down from the here.

The walking boot, which he must wear for the next two to three days, is for the inside of his calf.

“I’m walking funny because I’m trying protect this,” he said pointing to the area of the injury. “Now the inside part of my calf is getting tight. So I have to wear this.”

It’s just another aspect of the disabled list stint that is making Hernandez insane with inactivity and frustrated in the recovery. Seeing his team losing also doesn’t help.

“I’m going crazy right now,” he said. “I don’t know what to do. I’m not used to this.”

Well, allowing his daughter, Mia, to braid his hair into side-by-side braided rows is something. But beyond the daily treatment for the injury, which includes conditioning in the pool and his shoulder exercises to maintain arm strength, Hernandez is improvising in ways to stay active. He played catch while sitting in a chair in the batting cage on Tuesday.

“It keeps my arm moving,” he said. “It felt pretty good.”

He has managed to keep some semblance of a sense of humor despite his frustration. When mentioned it seemed odd that he had calf strain considering he seemed to be lacking visible calf muscles, Hernandez laughed while looking at his legs.

“That’s probably why!” he said.

*** Ketel Marte was scratched from the starting lineup with neck spasms.

*** Leonys Martin will participate in a simulated game at Safeco Field on Wednesday since Class AAA Tacoma isn’t playing. Martin will hit and run the bases. On Thursday, he will join the Rainiers for a rehab game. He is eligible to come off the disabled list on Friday. The hope is that he can be ready to play on Friday.

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*** The Rangers won on Rougned Odor’s walk-off double  … Jurickson Profar playing some first base

*** The Astros are going with closer by committee.

On this day in Mariners’ history

• 1981 – The Mariners outlasted the Cleveland Indians, 5-4 in 11 innings at home, as Julio Cruz tied the Major League fielding record for most chances accepted by a second baseman in a nine-inning game (18).  He received one more chance in extra innings, leaving him just one shy of the all-time mark.
• 1985 – Rookie right-hander Bill Swift made his major league debut just two days after being called up from AA-Chattanooga.  Swift pitched five innings of 1-hit relief to pick up his first career win as the Mariners held on to defeat the Cleveland Indians, 6-4, at Cleveland Stadium.
• 1990 – In his first start after his no-hitter, Randy Johnson allows a solo home run to Ivan Calderon and then retires the final 20 batters in a 2-1 win at Chicago. Johnson strikes out 10 while allowing just one walk in the complete game win.
• 1995 – Trailing 2-0 after seven innings and having just two singles in the game the Mariners erupt for a nine run eighth inning at Baltimore. Edgar Martinez second career grand slam highlighted the 10-2 victory.
• 1996 – Russ Davis breaks his leg chasing a foul pop at Kansas City. He is out for the season.
• 2002 – Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa homered in the first-ever meeting between Chicago and Seattle.  The Cubs went on to win the game 2-0 at SAFECO Field.
• 2010 – Cliff Lee becomes the third pitcher in club history to throw a complete game at Rangers Ballpark.  He joins the company of John Halama (7/4/99), and Randy Johnson (7/5/98) as the only Mariners to go the distance.
• 2015 – Mike Montgomery tossed his 2nd quality start in as many MLB starts, but was saddled with his first MLB loss in a 3-1 defeat to Tampa Bay.

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