Logan Gilbert delivers masterclass in dominant outing as Mariners beat Padres, 2-0
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – The Seattle Mariners continued their winning streak and kicked off a five-game homestand the right way as they shutout the San Diego Padres. Seattle got a masterful performance from starting pitcher Logan Gilbert on the mound, as “Walter” achieved a feat that only the great Felix Hernandez has. The Mariners offense was a little creative in this ballgame as they got their two runs off a pitch clock violation walk on a towering triple that seemed to get up and over the head of Padres centerfielder Trent Grisham. Seattle continues their hot ways, creeping closer and closer towards an AL Wild Card spot, while San Diego continues to search for answers in an underwhelming season.
San Diego Padres hitters were left searching for answers against Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)
He is the one who knocks
Seattle starting pitcher Logan Gilbert was as strong as we’ve seen him through his three-year career, having arguably the best start of that career. Gilbert set a career mark in strikeouts in a game with 12, while achieving a feat that only that great Felix Hernandez (who is being inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame this weekend) has in this franchise’s history. Gilberts outing tonight was only the second performance in team history of 10+ strikeouts, 0 walks, and 1 or fewer hits allowed. The first time that was achieved was Felix’s perfect game. It seems only fitting that Gilbert, the current longest tenured member of the rotation (it would be Marco if he wasn't injured) and someone who said that he “loves it here” when there were rumors swirling about him at the deadline is the one to accomplish such a feat ahead of Hernandez’s special weekend.
Gilbert’s outing never saw any real danger, with the only base runner allowed being a Xander Bogaerts single in the second inning. Outside of that, Logan threw 100 pitches on the night, getting the Padres to whiff on 15 of them and throwing four different types of pitches. Those would be his fastball, splitter, knuckle curve, and slider. San Diego only put ten of those pitches into play, with six of them not being hit hard. The only hit that was put against Gilbert was a Xavier Bogaerts infield single that was more so a ball that Dylan Moore couldn’t handle off his glove. Logan Gilbert was excellent in this outing, and it showed what he can do when he has his off-speed pitches working.
The Seattle Mariners offense was only able to produce two runs on the night, but it was just enough to beat the Padres tonight (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)
Minimal offense is just enough to beat San Diego
The Mariners had an odd day on offense, getting nine hits off the five pitchers that the Padres used but only scoring two runs on the day. Seattle’s lack of production with that many hits can be attributed to their struggles with runners in scoring position, as the Mariners went a dismal 2-11 with runners in scoring position in this game. Seattle had traffic, runners in scoring position, in the first three innings of the game but couldn’t do anything to make that matter. Instead of doing things conventionally, per say, the Mariners got their runs in two somewhat odd instances.
The first Mariners run came in the fifth inning, as Seattle had loaded the bases behind a Dylan Moore walk and singles by JP Crawford and Julio Rodriguez. Cal Raleigh was responsible for driving in the only run that Seattle got from those loaded bases as he drew a walk, but not just any normal walk. In a 3-1 count, Padres reliever Ray Kerr was charged with a pitch clock violation and thus Raleigh was awarded the walk. For the second Mariners run of the night, Dylan Moore drove in Tom Murphy (single) with a towering triple out to center field that San Diego centerfielder Trent Grisham couldn’t handle as he had to try and catch it over his shoulder.
Seattle Mariners centerfielder Julio Rodriguez robs San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr of a home run (Photo by Mathew Bermudez)
JP and Julio delivering for Mariners
Seattle shortstop JP Crawford and centerfielder Julio Rodriguez have been big factors for the team since the All-Star break and overall this season, but especially in the recent stretch. Those two are first and third on the team in OPS, respectively, while sitting as the top two players on the Mariners in fWAR. Both players recorded multi-hit games today, with JP getting into scoring position three separate times on his three hits, while Julio made numerous highlight-reel catches including his robbery of Fernando Tatis Jr on what would’ve been a solo homer in the fourth inning. While Julio has been in a “down” year he has still been highly impactful for Seattle, and JP Crawford has been one of the best shortstops in baseball after many Mariners fans wanted him replaced or moved to second base this offseason.
Quick notes
The Mariners beat the Padres 2-0 in tonight’s opening game of the 2-game series...they have won 6-straight games and are now a season-high 9 games over .500 at 61-52.
Tonight marked the Mariners 11th shutout win of the season.
In series openers, Seattle moves to 22-15.
Tonight's crowd of 40,231 is the largest Tuesday crowd at T-Mobile Park since July 24, 2018 vs. the Giants (40,276).
In his 23rd start of the season, Logan Gilbert threw 7.0 innings and allowed only 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks and struck out 12 over 100 pitches...Gilbert’s 12 strikeouts tonight marked a new career high (previously: 11 on 9/19/22 @ LAA) and is the most by a Mariners starting pitcher this season (previously: 11 by Luis Castillo on 7/19 vs. MIN).
Tonight, Gilbert became the 8th pitcher in the Majors to pitch 7.0+ innings, allow 0 runs and record 12+ strikeouts this season.
It was the 7th time in franchise history a starter had an outing with 7.0+ IP, 0 R, 1-or-fewer hits and 10+ K (last: Vidal Nuño, 9/9/15 vs. TEX).
Gilbert allowed only 1 hit in his start tonight, marking the 5th time this season a Mariners starter has allowed only 1 hit through 6.0+ innings (last: Bryce Miller on 6/12 vs. MIA).
He recorded his 13th quality start of the season tonight, the 2nd most by a Mariners starter this year (most: 16 by George Kirby).
Gilbert has not allowed a walk in 7 of his starts this season and has allowed 1-or-fewer in 16 of his 23 starts…he ranks 2nd in both categories among Mariners starters, trailing only Kirby’s 10 and 20 games respectively.
He ranks tied for 3rd in the Majors with a 1.02 WHIP (also: Tyler Wells-BAL), trailing only Zach Eflin-TB (0.97) and Nathan Eovaldi-TEX (1.01)
J.P. Crawford led off Mariners hitters tonight with a double, his 8th leadoff double of the season and 2nd leadoff double on the first pitch…he went 3-for-4 with 1 double in the game, his 28th multi-hit game and 5th 3+ hit game this year.
Crawford has now hit leadoff extra-base hits on the first pitch of the game in back-to-back games following tonight’s double and a leadoff home run on 8/6 @ LAA…he is the first Mariners hitter to accomplish this feat since Ichiro recorded a leadoff double on 8/12/11 vs. BOS and a leadoff home run on 8/13/11 vs. BOS…Crawford and Ichiro are the only two Mariners hitters to accomplish this feat since 1988.
Crawford extended his on-base streak to 13 games (7/24-c) tonight, during which he is batting .333 (16x48) with 5 doubles, 2 home runs, 2 RBI and 13 walks…it is the 2nd time this year he has recorded a 13+ game on-base streak (highest: 16 games from 4/30-5/20).
Crawford’s .382 on base percentage ranks 3rd in the American League.
With 26 doubles on the season now, Crawford now ties Ty France for the team lead.
Julio Rodríguez went 2-for-4 on the night with singles in the 1st and 5th innings...it marked his team-leading 38th multi-hit game this season.
Rodríguez has hit safely in 15 of the last 16 games (7/22-c) during which he is batting .343 (24x70) with 5 home runs, 12 RBI, 3 walks (1 IBB).
Tom Murphy extended his hitting streak to 9 games (7/24-c) tonight following a single in the 6th inning…his current hitting streak ties his career-high (last: 5/20/19-6/9/19).
Dylan Moore picked up 1 triple, 1 RBI and 1 walk in tonight’s game…his triple in the 6th inning was his first of the season.
Of Moore’s 13 hits this season, 10 have been extra-base hits.
Ty France singled in the 4th inning…he has reached base safely in 13 of the last 15 games (7/23-c).
Dominic Canzone picked up his 4th double of the season in the 2nd inning tonight…since his acquisition, he has reached base safely in 4 of 5 games played with the Mariners.
The Mariners bullpen tonight (Matt Brash and Andrés Muñoz) combined for 2.0 innings and allowed 2 hits, 1 walk and 2 strikeouts.
Tonight marked the first time the Mariners scored a run on a pitch timer violation this season after Cal Raleigh walked in the 5th inning.
A pitch time violation was called on pitcher Ray Kerr in the 5th inning, resulting in ball 4 to Cal Raleigh…Raleigh walked and Dylan Moore scored to put the Mariners up 1-0.
A pitch timer violation was called on batter Juan Soto in the 7th inning.
What’s next?
Tonight’s victory was game one of two for the Mariners as they host the Padres to begin this five game homestand, with Seattle looking to secure this year's edition of the Vedder Cup. This talented while underperforming San Diego lineup will surely be looking for a bounce back performance in game two of this series, when these teams meet again in what will likely be Emerson Hancock’s major league debut. Seattle’s 4th overall prospect and top pitching prospect was seen in the clubhouse before today’s ballgame and will be replacing Bryan Woo in the lineup, who was placed on the injured list today with right forearm inflammation. First pitch for the Wednesday, August 9th game is at 6:40PM PST.