Mariners make it two out of two versus Mets with 4-0 win

Logan Gilbert looks back to his best and the lineup strikes early, as the Mariners clinch their series versus the Mets with a game to spare.

We won’t go as far as calling it an All-Star jinx, but there was certainly some concern for Logan Gilbert with how he performed during July following his first ever selection to the Midsummer Classic. In fact for the month as a whole he struggled with a 1-3 record and 4.60 ERA, as the Mariners went 1-4 overall in his five starts.

However, Gilbert got back on track against the Philadelphia Phillies in his previous outing, as he allowed just four hits and one earned run in 6.0 innings. He continued his strong start to August on Saturday night, with a tremendous outing versus the New York Mets in a 4-0 win.

The 4-0 win represented the second consecutive shutout against the Mets, after a 6-0 victory on Friday night. It also represented the 13th of the season overall for the Mariners, which is best in the Majors.

Gilbert excels

For Gilbert on a personal level, his outing versus the Mets was the sixth time this season in 24 starts, that he hadn’t allowed a run. In all, he gave up just three hits and one walk in 7.0 innings, while striking out six batters in his 92 pitches.

Gilbert continues to make the case for being the staff’s ace, despite the presence of George Kirby and Luis Castillo. He leads all Mariners pitchers with 19 quality starts, 154.2 innings and a 3.1 WAR.

In addition, Gilbert’s 0.873 WHIP is best in the Majors, while his 2.91 ERA and 3.26 FIP are both projected to be the lowest of his four-year career. Oh, and on top of all this, his fifth outings this year of seven or more scoreless innings, is the most in the Majors.

Gilbert was pretty much hot from the get go. After giving up a lead-off single in the top of the first, he did not allow another hit until the sixth inning.

In this respect, the sixth was the only inning when Mariners manager Scott Servais had even a remote concern about Gilbert. Servais said:

“He was behind some hitters in that inning. It was the only inning he was really behind anybody, and I felt like he was pitching maybe not to screw it up. You have to be the aggressor and I thought in the seventh when he went out he said, ‘no this is my game, I’m going to be on the attack.'”

In respect of his overall performance, Gilbert was satisfied — which is saying something for him given his high personal expectations — even taking some motivation from Bryce Miller’s outing the night before. He said:

“I think a pretty good pitch mix, deep arsenal. I saw that with Bryce yesterday, he did a great job at mixing it up with six pitches. Getting ahead, being aggressive, I think it’s the main thing we always preach and trusting that my stuff can play in the zone early and then expand late.”

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Mariners lineup provides an early boost

Naturally, no matter how good Gilbert was, it only matters so much if you can’t score. Fortunately for everyone concerned, the Mariners came out firing in the bottom of the first.

Recent additions Randy Arozarena and Justin Turner both had RBI doubles, to give the Mariners an early 2-0 advantage. The recently hot Mitch Haniger added a RBI single of his own to make it 3-0 after one, and the home side never looked back.

While the Mariners lead the Majors in team ERA they are also fourth-worst in runs scored, so you know Gilbert appreciated the early barrage of run support. As per Josh Kirshenbaum of MLB.com, he said:

“Saturday night, the fans are going crazy out there. I’m down in the tunnel, getting ready for the next inning, and it sounds like a playoff game out there. Putting up three runs in the first, that’s huge and a lot of momentum. Then it’s just my job to go out there and hold it.”

The Mariners extended their lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the seventh, courtesy of Turner’s second hit and RBI of the night. Then it was over to the bullpen, as Yimi García and Andrés Muñoz both pitched an inning of scoreless baseball to secure the shutout win.

Overall, Servais appreciates how fortunate the ball club is, to have arguably the best pitching staff in baseball. (Aside from ERA, the Mariners also lead the Majors in WHIP, opposing team batting average and fewest walks.) He said:

“I sit up here and say the same thing every night don’t I? It does not get old, when you get to watch that every night. We’re spoiled. Our starting pitching has been outstanding all year long.”

With the win, the Mariners improve to 62-56 and remain in a virtual tie with the Houston Astros at the top of the AL West. They’ll send Castillo to the mound for the series finale on Sunday night baseball, in a game which will apparently see Julio Rodríguez make his return from injury, as the DH.

What has impressed you most so far in this series against the Mets? And do you predict the Mariners will sweep the series on Sunday night baseball? Let us know in the comments section below.