SEATTLE -- Felix Hernandez is likely entering the most important offseason of his career.Hernandez is confident that King Felix can return in Seattle. But its going to require changes and work in the offseason.The Mariners know it, and from the sounds of it, so does Hernandez.We certainly need him at the top of the rotation. We need him in the rotation, preferably at the top, because he has history of doing that, Seattle manager Scott Servais said. But hes kind of at that point of the career where hes going to need to make a few adjustments to get the results that he wants.Hernandez pitched three innings on Sunday, giving up all three runs as the Oakland Athletics closed out the year with a 3-2 win over the Mariners.The short stint from Hernandez (11-8) was a combination of how he looked on the mound and the emotional toll from Saturdays loss that eliminated Seattle from playoff contention.The Mariners appeared drained after seeing their postseason hopes dashed in that extra-innings loss to the As. Hernandez (11-8) was lifted after the third inning and Guillermo Heredias two-run double in the fifth amounted to all of Seattles offense and the only real threat against Oakland starter Sean Manaea.Hernandez said he nearly left Saturday nights loss early to get prepared for Sundays finale but couldnt pull himself away from Seattles comeback effort that fell short. He was the last one to leave the dugout after watching Seattles postseason hopes crumble for another year.He wasnt the only one feeling the emotional letdown.Last night and the run that weve been on took a lot out of everybody physically and emotionally, Servais said.Hernandez closed out of the most inconsistent season of his career with a brief appearance. He was solid early in the season, but a strained calf muscle that landed him on the disabled list for nearly two months derailed finding a groove. He also fought mechanical issues and finished with a 3.82 ERA, his highest since 2007 when he was 21 and in his second full season.Hernandez lost his final three decisions of the season.I was disappointed for sure. Im the guy that always likes to throw 200 innings and pitch the most games that I can and get the most strikeouts that I can, Hernandez said. It happens. I just have to forget about this and get ready for next year.Hernandez said he intends on playing in the World Baseball Classic for Venezuela and may pick up a game or two of winter ball to help get ready for the year.Im going to go out there and show everybody that dont believe in me that Im going to be King Felix, Hernandez said.Stephen Vogt hit his 14th home run in the first inning on the only pitch that he saw from Hernandez, driving it just beyond the left-field wall. Vogt was lifted for a pinch-hitter in his next at-bat. Marcus Semien and Eric Pinder added RBI singles as Oakland made the three early runs stand up.NEAR MISSThe Mariners were in contention for the second wild card in the American League thanks to a 16-6 stretch. But hopes of playoff baseball returning to the Pacific Northwest for the first time in 15 years ended when Seattle lost 9-8 in 10 innings on Saturday.It was the second time in three years the Mariners went into the final weekend with a shot at the postseason only to fall just short.Seattle made a 10-game improvement from 2015 in Scott Servais first year as a manager at any level of baseball. Seattle was buoyed by huge years from Nelson Cruz, Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager, who combined to hit 112 home runs and drive in 307 runs in the middle of the order.FINAL IMPRESSIONManaea (7-9) threw seven innings, allowing five hits and striking out five. Since coming off the disabled list in mid-September, Manaea allowed three runs in 24 innings, striking out 20 and allowing 15 hits.Oakland finished at 69-93, a one-game improvement over a year ago.UP NEXTAthletics: Oakland opens the 2017 season on April 3 at home against the Los Angeles Angels.Mariners: Seattle opens the 2017 season on April 3 at Houston. Authentic Thunder Jerseys . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Kyle Singler Jersey . Their 38th instalment is arguably their biggest fight card to date, including three-title fights and a main event which was selected by the fans. 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WASHINGTON -- Stephen Strasburg threw eight masterful innings and bunted in a run and Michael Taylor hit a two-run homer that broke the game open as the Washington Nationals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Friday night in the first game after the All-Star break.Strasburg (13-0) allowed one run and three hits with six strikeouts. The eight innings tied his longest start of the season. It was Strasburgs franchise-record 16th straight decision since September.Washington improved to 16-1 with Strasburg on the mound this year. He is the only qualified starter in the majors without a loss.The Nationals did most of their damage in the seventh inning, scoring one run on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Strasburg, another on a wild pitch and throwing error and two more on Taylors seventh homer.Washingtons Clint Robinson drove in a run in the fifth and scored in the seventh.Pirates starter Francisco Liriano (5-9) allowed three runs and five hits in six-plus innings.Reliever Neftali Feliz was responsible for the wild pitch and served up Taylors home run to right-center.Jordy Mercer drove in Pittsburghs only run in the fifth, and the Pirates were mostly helpless against Strasburg, who has allowed a total of five hits in three starts since coming off the disabled list July 3. He faced the minimum number of batters and didnt allow a hit through four, wiggling out of trouble twice before giving way to Shawn Kelley for the ninth.A bonkers seventh inning provided plenty of run support for the All-Star right-hander. A leadoff walk by Danny Espinosa and a single by Robinson -- who got the start aat first when Daniel Murphy was a late scratch -- set the table for Strasburg at the plate.ddddddddddddFirst baseman David Freese didnt tag first on the sac bunt attempt, and Espinosa made good on his gamble of running home from third. A throwing error by catcher Eric Fryer on Felizs wild pitch compounded things, and then Taylor tacked on the extra runs.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: RHP Ryan Vogelsong, who has been out since May 23 when he was hit by a pitch and suffered three facial fractures, threw six scoreless innings in a rehab start for Double-A Altoona. ... C Francisco Cervelli, who has been on the DL since June 11 with a broken bone in his wrist, doubled and singled in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Indianapolis.Nationals: Murphy was scratched with leg soreness. The team listed him as day-to-day. ... Manager Dusty Baker said RHP Joe Ross continues to toss but remains on the DL with no definitive timeline.FATHERS DAYSThis is the Pirates fourth annual dads trip, and almost 20 fathers of people throughout the organization are taking part.Its an absolute blast for everybody, manager Clint Hurdle said. Its kind of like revisiting Little League but backwards because then weve got to follow our fathers around and make sure they havent left stuff behind.UP NEXTPirates RHP Gerrit Cole (5-4, 2.77 ERA) returns from the DL and starts Saturday against Nationals RHP Tanner Roark (8-5, 3.01). Cole has been out since June 11 with a strained right triceps muscle. Cheap Authentic Jerseys China Jerseys Wholesale Cheap Authentic Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys 2020 Wholesale Jerseys From China Cheap Jerseys Online Wholesale Jerseys China ' ' '