SEATTLE — Felix Hernandez pitched the Seattle Mariners’ first perfect game and the 23rd in baseball history, overpowering the Tampa Bay Rays in a brilliant 1-0 victory Wednesday.

The Mariners’ ace and former AL Cy Young Award winner has long talked of his desire to achieve pitching perfection.

He finally accomplished it against the Rays, striking out the side twice and finishing with 12 strikeouts.

It was the third perfect game in baseball this season, joining gems by Chicago’s Philip Humber against the Mariners in April and San Francisco’s Matt Cain against Houston in June.

Tigers 5, Twins 1

MINNEAPOLIS — Miguel Cabrera became the first player in Tigers history to reach 30 home runs in five straight seasons and Max Scherzer threw seven scoreless innings for Detroit in a 5-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday.

Cabrera also singled in the fifth off Cole De Vries (2-4) to push his majors-leading total to 103 RBIs.

His opposite-field solo shot in the first inning put the Tigers in front, and Scherzer (12-6) struck out 10 batters to move ahead of teammate Justin Verlander for the AL lead for at least a few days.

Delmon Young added a two-run homer against his former team.

The Tigers began the day two games behind Chicago in the AL Central, with seven contests remaining between them this season.