Zach Greinke likely gets the memento, but Felix Hernandez got the moment.

A day after Greinke, the Kansas City ace and Cy Young Award favorite, finished his season by working six difficult innings for a Royals team forced to serve as a doormat for the hard-charging Twins in Minnesota, Hernandez occupied a prominent place in the sun at Safeco Field. He held the Rangers to three runs – only two were earned – and three hits in a 4-3 victory whose aftermath could have set a Guiness record for most hugs exchanged in 30 minutes.

While the possibility of Ken Griffey Jr. appearing in a Mariners uniform for the final time was the sentimental theme of the afternoon, the affection shown King Felix by teammates and the crowd was no less evident.

Upon throwing his last pitch, with two outs and two on in the top of the seventh, Hernandez enjoyed a sustained standing ovation. He answered by removing his cap and extending it high over his head – a simple thank-you gesture, although optimists had reason to interpret it as a statement, Hernandez’s way of saying: “Gee, that was fun. Let’s do this more often!”

As usual, it took some help from the bullpen for Hernandez to win his 19th game, and, as usual, the bullpen was up to the task of preserving another one-run decision.

“There were a lot of things that were right today,” manager Don Wakamatsu said during a brief postgame chat with the press, aborted when Mike Sweeney, crouching on the floor, weaved through a thicket of reporters and nailed Wakamatsu with an ice-cream pie in the face. “The man who carried this club got the start – for him to win his 19th game in his last start was awfully befitting …

“To see him start out in spring training and go as far as he has and mature into such a dominating pitcher, it’s a joy for a manager to watch.”

Because Hernandez had thrown 120 pitches in his most recent start, last Tuesday, Wakamatsu figured there was no reason to extend the right-hander’s day for some Cy Young-related stat-padding. So he was gone after 107 pitches, finishing the season with an ERA of 2.49, fourth best in franchise history. He also became only the second Mariners pitcher – the other was Randy Johnson – to pass the 200-inning barrier while striking out least 200, winning at least 15 games and owning a sub-3.00 ERA.

In almost any other season, a record of such comprehensive mastery would guarantee a Cy Young Award. But it’s difficult to envision voters overlooking Greinke’s 2.16 ERA, or his consistent ability to put the Royals in a position to win despite a supporting cast that would scuffle in Triple A.

But even if Greinke prevails when the postseason awards are announced a week after the World Series, it’ll do nothing to diminish either Hernandez’s magical season or its majestic ending.

“This year was more fun to play than I’ve ever had in the big leagues,” said the 23-year old Hernandez, who broke into the majors in 2004.

“If it happens, it happens,” he continued, referring to the Cy Young Award. “If no, maybe next year the award will happen.

“It’s not about me.”

Actually, his team’s rebound from 61-101 in 2008 to 85-77 in 2009 was very much about Hernandez. The Mariners won 25 of the 34 games he started. In 23 of those starts, Seattle was coming off a defeat. His record in those stop-the-bleeding games was 15-4, with a 2.46 ERA.

“Every single time he goes out there,” said catcher Rob Johnson, “he goes out there like it’s almost a battle. He wants to win, and he wants to shove it down their throat. It’s just been impressive to watch.

“He’s 23 years old, and he goes out and dominates for an entire season. It’s a heck of a lot of fun to catch him. And I’ll tell you, one of the most memorable things I’ve done in baseball was catching him today when he struck out the side.”

That was in the sixth, Hernandez’s last full inning of the season, when he whiffed Julio Borbon, Elvis Andrus and David Murphy in succession. Granted, these guys didn’t represent the meat of the Rangers’ batting order, and by then the afternoon shadows over home plate turned the elementary exercise of seeing the ball into an occupational hazard. But all three strikeouts were on swings and misses, rekindling memories of the Big Unit at his best.

So much for those comparisons. Johnson already had turned 30 before he learned to command his fastball and control his slider. Hernandez has grasped the nuances of power and deception – thanks to a fabulous curveball he’s confident to use on any count – at the ridiculous age of 23.

Now the heavy lifting begins for general manager Jack Zduriencik, who must sell Hernandez on the long-term benefits of forgoing free agency in 2012 and remaining with the Mariners. It’s a difficult assignment, because the long-term benefits are more about comfort and contentment than achieving the distinction of being the most coveted free agent since free agency was implemented in 1975.

Then again, it would be a mistake to underestimate comfort and contentment.

The scene on Sunday, when the Mariners gathered for a curtain-call trek around the field, had to make a permanent impression in the mind of a 23-year baseball player.

Asked to surmise the difference between 2009 and the years that preceded it, in a few words, Hernandez replied:

“More fun, more fun, more fun.”

The two-word answer was sufficient, but the two words sounded so sweet, he couldn’t help but repeat them.

john.mcgrath@thenewstribune.com