Gilbert's 9-K gem unable to boost first-place Mariners into break

ANAHEIM – Logan Gilbert won’t be pitching in Arlington on Tuesday in the All-Star Game. But Sunday was the kind of performance which validated his first career selection.

He tossed seven shutout innings, allowing two hits, no walks, striking out nine, and at one point retiring 14 Angels in a row as the Mariners looked to secure a series split heading into the break atop the AL West.

Despite being at 87 pitches, manager Scott Servais pulled Gilbert with the hopes that his next two relievers could take it to the finish line.

“You think you’re in great shape with [Ryne] Stanek and [Andrés] Muñoz,” Servais said, “which has been our formula here.”

The plan went awry once Stanek began the eighth with a leadoff four-pitch walk to Mickey Moniak and back spasms forced him out. Austin Voth entered and walked Zach Neto. Then on a full count, Jo Adell turned the game upside down with a three-run homer. It was the difference in a 3-2 loss at Angel Stadium.

Gilbert finished the first half with his 16th quality start in 20 outings, a 2.79 ERA, and an MLB-leading WHIP of 0.87 in a league-high 132.1 innings pitched, something Servais weighed as he assessed Sunday’s late-game situation.

“We’ve leaned on him very heavily,” Servais said. “We’re in a great spot in that game thinking you go to Stanek and Muñoz and then jump on the plane. It just didn’t happen.”

“I always want to go back out,” Gilbert said. “I trust what they’re doing – playing the long game. I have complete faith in the bullpen knowing how good they’ve been all year.”

J.P. Crawford opened the sixth with a 410-foot home run off Hunter Strickland, his ninth long ball of the year and the first hit of the afternoon for the Mariners. It was the loudest noise in what was a rather silent day from the Seattle bats.

Another spark came the next inning courtesy of their recent impact acquisition Victor Robles, who drew a one-out walk and proceeded to cause havoc on the basepaths. Three pitches later, he stole second. On the next pitch, he stole third. And as catcher Logan O’Hoppe’s throw drifted into the outfield, Robles went home to create the Mariners’ second run.

It seemed to be more than enough support for Gilbert, whose dominance on the mound ensured a unique place in team history – becoming the second M’s pitcher to post a sub-3.00 ERA with at least 100 strikeouts and a sub-1.00 WHIP before the All-Star break.

He began the day yielding a double to Nolan Schanuel, but escaped that trouble and didn’t allow another baserunner until the fifth thanks to increased velocity in his slider and four-seam fastball.

Gilbert threw 31 sliders at an 88.9 mph clip (up 0.8 mph from his season average) and 27 four-seam fastballs 1.2 mph faster than his average velocity. That, plus elite command equaled a stellar outing Sunday, reflective of the season he’s had.

“I always try to be really aggressive in the zone,” Gilbert said. “[Today], I recommitted to being aggressive, especially when I’m ahead. Ton of credit to Cal [Raleigh] and the defense for helping me out big time.”

Into the fifth, the Mariners found a way to solve the runners in scoring position issue – by never getting runners on base at all.

Carson Fulmer’s 4.2 perfect innings were followed by a throwing error from second baseman Keston Hiura. Despite a hit-by-pitch and a walk, Seattle came up empty on another bases-loaded situation as Dylan Moore popped out.

The nightmare recurred in the eighth, although it appeared to just be a missed chance at insurance. When the bottom half transpired, it came back to haunt them.

Seattle’s hitting struggles, underscored by a combined 2-for-15 effort with men in scoring position on Friday and Saturday, have yielded a thin margin for error this season. It again proved costly Sunday in a third consecutive one-run loss.

“You need the big two-out hit,” Servais said. “They got it. In this series, we did not.”

The margin is also small as far as the division goes. That will be put to the test as the Mariners host second-place Houston to begin the second half.

“We’ve got to wash it away as we get to the break,” Servais said. “Catch our breath. Recharge. We’ve got to come back strong after that.”