Logan Gilbert pitched six scoreless innings and matched his career high with nine strikeouts as the Seattle Mariners defeated the visiting Chicago White Sox 3-0 Tuesday night.
Cal Raleigh hit a two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning off Reynaldo Lopez to provide some insurance for the Mariners (77-59), who won for the eighth time in their past nine games and remained tied with Tampa Bay atop the American League’s wild-card playoff standings.
Gilbert (12-5), who hasn’t allowed an earned run in three career starts against the White Sox, gave up five hits and didn’t walk a batter.
Seattle’s Matt Brash and Andres Munoz each pitched a scoreless inning of relief and Paul Sewald worked the ninth for his 18th save of the season.
The White Sox (68-68), without manager Tony La Russa while on an indefinite leave because of health issues, lost for just the second time in the past seven games as they chase Cleveland and Minnesota in the AL Central.
White Sox starter Johnny Cueto (7-7) nearly matched Gilbert. The veteran allowed one run on five hits in six-plus innings, with three walks and three strikeouts.
The Mariners opened the scoring in the fourth inning.
Ty France hit a leadoff double down the right field line and Mitch Haniger hit a fly ball just shy of the warning track in right. France tagged and went to third on the play, with outfielder Gavin Sheets’ throw skipping past third baseman Yoan Moncada and out of play — the ball caromed into the camera well just past the White Sox’s dugout — to allow France to trot home.
It remained 1-0 until the eighth when Sam Haggerty drew a two-out walk and Raleigh launched a drive deep to right, his 23rd homer of the season.
White Sox center fielder Luis Robert left midway through the fifth inning with an apparent left hand injury. Robert was hit on the hand while swinging at an inside pitch in the second inning. He also fanned leading off the fifth, taking an awkward, one-handed swing on the third strike.
–Field Level Media