Mariners get big Wild Card win in opener against Boston

The Mariners started their biggest series of the year on Monday night as the Boston Red Sox came to town for a three-game series. The M’s were three games back in the wild card race and would need a strong showing against Boston to have any chance of realistically staying in the playoff picture.

That’s exactly what they got in the opener from Logan Gilbert. The Mariners were able to work their way out of a few trouble spots, scoring runs when needed and shutting down the Red Sox momentum en route to a 5-4 opening win against Boston.

Logan Gilbert and Mitch Haniger were the stars of the night for the Mariners

It’s been a bit tough to trust Gilbert over the last 4 weeks or so. He had a very rough finish to August, giving up 19 runs in 12.2 innings. It seemed as if he was hitting the proverbial rookie wall, and that his season could finish in a disappointing way for 2021.

The last three starts have been much better, with just four runs in 15.1 innings. That was highlighted by the start against the Red Sox last night. Gilbert was feeling it, striking out 7 batters through 4.1 innings. He notched his 8th to finish the inning, and had given up two runs amidst 87 pitches. I definitely throughout that would be it for him, but Servais had other plans.

Gilbert came back out for the 6th, and would instantly give up a double to Bogaerts. Again, Servais showed his trust in Gilbert, and it worked out masterfully. He needed just eight more pitches to get out of the inning, capping it off with a strikeout of Verdugo to finish things up. He would leave the game at 2-2, and barely miss out on being the pitcher of record for the day.

After a spotless 7th by Castillo, the Mariners would take advantage of a 2-out error by Red Sox first baseman Kyle Schwarber. Bauers would reach safely, and move to second on a bloop single by Crawford. Haniger would come to the plate and get just enough of a low curve to put it into the bullpen and make it a 5-2 game with his 33rd home run of the season.

Boston tried to answer in the 8th, with back-to-back two-out home runs by Bogaerts and Devers to make it 5-4 Mariners. Steckenrider would come in to pitch the 9th and sit them down in order for a good, clean save in the Mariners win.

Getting the opener is huge for the Mariners, especially after losing two series in a row, first to Houston and then Arizona. Toronto leads the wild card race now by a game over both Boston and New York, who sit two games ahead of Seattle. Facing the depleted Sox, the Mariners have a massive opportunity here to take advantage and gain ground in the Wild Card.