Longtime teammates Gilbert, Raleigh power Mariners to shutout win over White Sox
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – Following a tough loss in game one, the Mariners were able to ride a great pitching outing by Logan Gilbert to a shutout victory. Cal Raleigh, teammate of Gilbert since high-A ball, provided some insurance for Seattle with a two-run blast in the bottom of the eighth inning. Ty France got the scoring started on an odd error by the White Sox, and the Mariners pitching did their job just as they have all season long. The win gave the Mariners their 77th of the season, and remain tied for the first Wild Card spot in the American League.
Starter Logan Gilbert pitched six shutout innings for the Mariners (Photo by Liv Lyons)
Logan lets loose
Sophomore starting pitcher Logan Gilbert has really dialed back in since the 14th of August. That also happens to be the same date that Gilbert pitched his first start with his goatee, but that’s beside the point. Since that date, Logan has pitched 29.1 innings, recorded only a 2.15 ERA, struck out 29 batters, walked only five batters, and tallied a WHIP of 1.06. That is elite level stuff from a pitcher only playing in his second year at the big-league level. To get this sort of Gilbert down the stretch, as we continue throughout this month of September, will be huge going forward. The pitching, from the rotation and from the bullpen, has carried this team all season long and it seems like that will continue.
Cal Raleigh hit a two-run homer in the game (Photo by Liv Lyons)
Raleigh, man of many nicknames, comes up clutch
Whatever nickname you choose to call him, Cal Raleigh’s improvement over the summer has been a critical factor for the Mariners. The current MLB leader in homers at the catcher position, Raleigh extended his lead in that stat with a big blast in the bottom of the eighth inning. Raleigh would go way deep to right field, giving the Mariners a three run lead, and helping give insurance to the shutout built by his former teammate Logan Gilbert. The development of Raleigh is huge, considering that for some time now the Mariners have not had their “catcher of the future.” Raleigh takes the mantle, and should only get better from here.
Taylor Trammell shares a living situation with Cal Raleigh and Logan Gilbert (Photo by Liv Lyons)
Quick notes
Cal Raleigh, Taylor Trammell, and Logan Gilbert all share a place together.
Logan Gilbert on Cal Raleigh’s “Big Dumper” nickname: “It may be the funniest. It depends how you look at it. I think it’s hilarious.”
With a single tonight, Jesse Winker snapped an 0-22 streak.
What’s next?
Game three of the series takes place tomorrow, September 7th with a first pitch time of 1:10PM PST. The Mariners will look to take the series against Chicago, and hopefully get some more offense going. Seattle will have ace pitcher Luis Castillo on the mound, while it is currently not clear who the White Sox will have pitching.