Logan Gilbert stifles Marlins offense

MIAMI, FL—Just prior to the Marlins taking the field for Saturday afternoon’s game against the Seattle Mariners, a lightning bolt struck right outside the left field windows at loanDepot park, sending a clap of thunder through the ballpark.

That was the only boom the Marlins offense would see, as they were shut out by starting pitcher Logan Gilbert. The Marlins mustered four hits and one walk against the right-hander and only got three runners into scoring position.

Gilbert was the benefactor of a double play in each of the first two innings that both negated leadoff singles. He had 12 pitches—all strikes—through the second inning. He ended the day with 92 pitches and 68 strikes in eight innings.

Only three Marlins hitters got into scoring position, and one of those instances was Bryan De La Cruz reaching second base on a throwing error by Mariners third baseman Josh Rojas.

Mariners reliever Eduard Bazardo pitched a scoreless frame to complete the shut out.

Not that it wound up mattering due to the goose egg on the scoreboard, but Marlins starting pitcher Shaun Anderson put the Marlins in a tough spot early on. Anderson, making his second start for Miami since the Marlins acquired him in late May, allowed the first three hitters of the game to reach base. A bases-loaded wild pitch followed by a sacrifice fly to center field plated two runs.

“His location is just off,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “He's got to have better location with the sinker, needs to get the ball on the ground more. If it’s not a lot of swing-and-miss, he needs to get the ball on the ground more.”

While Anderson limited the traffic in the second and third innings, he got into trouble in the fourth inning. Facing the bottom half of the Mariners lineup, he allowed the first five batters of the inning to reach base, beginning with a leadoff single from Luke Raley. Seattle scored on a singles from Dominic Canzone and Ryan Bliss and a fielder’s choice by J.P. Crawford. 

Anderson was doing well getting ahead early in counts in the second and third innings, but the Mariners adjusted. All six batters he faced in the fourth put the ball in play on the first or second pitch of the at-bat.

Anderson allowed eight hits in total along with six runs, with five being earned. He has allowed nine earned runs in 5 ⅔ innings with the Marlins in his two starts.

“I’ve been wanting to play for my hometown team for a really long time," the South Florida native said postgame, "and that’s what’s also really frustrating.”

Notes

-Braxton Garrett will not make his scheduled start on Sunday due to left elbow discomfort. Triple-A Jacksonville right-hander Kyle Tyler will start in his place.

-Jazz Chisholm Jr. was removed from the game in the sixth inning due to right biceps tightness. He said he felt it cramp up on a throw from center field earlier in the game.