Mariners star Logan Gilbert: I Regret ever signing with the mariners, this is not what i wanted.
The Mariners couldn’t find their way to the finish line even on a night when they had their best pitcher on the mound, an early lead thanks to a momentum-seizing home run, and the opposition starting on the ropes.
And following a 5-3 loss to the Pirates on Friday night at PNC Park, the team’s winless road trip entered its fourth day in a row.
Even Pittsburgh, who was experiencing a worse run of defeats (10 games in a row), took advantage of Seattle’s subsequent downward trend, falling to 3 1/2 games behind first place in the American League West with the Astros still playing the White Sox.
Scott Servais, manager of the Mariners, stated, “I believe in our guys.” We’re going to overcome it. But we must score some major hits. That’s the main idea here. When it comes to players in scoring position, you must provide.
The pitching battle of the weekend was expected to feature Pirates rookie sensation Paul Skenes against Mariners Cy Young Award contender Logan Gilbert on Friday in Pittsburgh.
It was, for the most part, just as good as promised.
While Skenes battled inconsistent command to churn out another strong start in his campaign for the National League Rookie of the Year Award, Gilbert set the tone by striking out the side in the first inning with the fastest pitch of his career—100.2 mph.
However, the continuous story of a lack of run support ultimately wrote another depressing chapter in a season that has been filled with them. Entering Friday, Gilbert’s offense when on the mound averaged just 2.97 runs, which was the second-lowest of all qualified starts.
Gilbert remarked, “I feel like it was my game to go out there and turn it around.” “I thought we had a good opportunity to start off well as well.”
The initial of three mistakes
Gilbert allowed No. 9 hitter Michael A. Taylor to single in the fifth after allowing Yasmani Grandal to hit a game-tying home run. Taylor then stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by Cal Raleigh. In the next plate appearance, Andrew McCutchen hit a sac fly, which allowed Taylor to score.
Though they didn’t result in runs, the Mariners committed two additional errors: Jorge Polanco on a grounder through his glove and Gilbert on a wide throw to first on an effective bunt from Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
Luke Raley crushed a home run off of Skenes at 112.5 mph, the fastest ball the Pirates’ fiery righty has given up all season, giving the two unusual walks from Gilbert Gilbert a two-run lead in the fourth inning. However, up until the ninth, that ended up being the Mariners’ only run creation.
