Mariners let down Logan Gilbert in 2-1 loss to Athletics

Logan Gilbert couldn’t have done much more in Oakland, but a lack of run support from the Mariners lineup saw him tagged with the loss.

Logan Gilbert is off to a fine start this year, among other things being on course for the lowest ERA and WHIP of his four seasons in the Majors. However, the one thing which is consistently holding him back in 2024, is a lack of run support from the Mariners.

Consider that prior to Wednesday night’s start in Oakland, Gilbert had the third-lowest run support average among all qualifying pitchers, at 2.58 runs per outing. This number has now only gotten worse, thanks to a frustrating 2-1 loss to the Athletics.

Gilbert truly couldn’t have pitched too much better at the Oakland Coliseum, as he allowed just five hits, no walks and one earned run in 7.0 innings. However, thanks to only one run by his own team he was tagged with the loss, as he fell to 3-4 and the Mariners overall dropped to 6-7 in games he has started this year.

Mariners offense can’t get going

It didn’t help that the Mariners lineup made Joey Estes — who entered the game with a 6.10 ERA on the season — look like a Cy Young pitcher. He was throwing a perfect game going into the top of the seventh, before J.P. Crawford broke it up with a lead-off double.

The Mariners would subsequently load the bases with two outs in the same half inning, but Mitch Garver ground out to end the threat. Their only run of the night would come via Julio Rodríguez’s solo blast in the top of the ninth, but it proved to be too little too late.

The recent decision to part company with Brant Brown as offensive coordinator and bench coach was seen as unavoidable, but it’s clear the lineup still has plenty of work to do. Following Wednesday’s loss, the Mariners have the most strikeouts in the Majors, are 29th in batting average, 26th in OPS and most importantly, a lowly 27th in runs scored.

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Gilbert disappointed in himself

It speaks volumes about Gilbert, that despite his strong outing he still put the blame for the loss on himself. Speaking postgame to the media, he said:

“It’s just tough, that one inning kind of got away from it a little bit. I feel like it’s on me, throwing the ball away and then the wild pitch there (which resulted in the unearned run).”

Mariners manager Scott Servais was more straightforward about where the issue was on the night, with the lineup managing just four hits in total (along with two walks). Also speaking to the media, he said:

“Unfortunately, offensively we got nothing going at all. … It’s a little surprising. I think we’v been in a good streak here in the last four or give games, getting some things going early in the game against the starter. We just weren’t able to do that tonight.”

Ultimately, no matter where the players may want to apportion the blame, the Mariners still let one get away from them. As Gilbert said:

“I felt like this was a (game) we could’ve won and should’ve won, if we wan to keep the momentum going for sure.”

The loss halted the Mariners’ winning streak in Oakland at eight games. However, they can still take the series on Thursday afternoon, when they send Bryan Woo to the mound.

Let’s give the Mariners their due in the overall record so far in 2024 at 35-28 and with a 4.5 game lead in the AL West as of Thursday morning. Aside from the rotation, what else has given you the most cause for optimism that they will be back in the playoffs this season? Let us know in the comments section below.