Gilbert, Sewald help Mariners silence Houston bats again for 1-0 victory

SEATTLE (AP) — Rookie right-hander Logan Gilbert and four relievers combined to shut out Houston for the second straight day and J.P. Crawford score the lone run on a sacrifice fly to give the Seattle Mariners a 1-0 win over the Astros on Wednesday.

Mariners 1, Astros 0: Box Score

Seattle took two of three in the series from the AL West leaders, and if not for a late collapse in the opener, it may have come away with a sweep. The Mariners are still 6.5 back of Houston in the AL West but continue to hang around in the wild-card race.

The Mariners received exceptional pitching for a second straight day along with a couple of defensive gems to make up for a lack of offense. Seattle managed just three hits off Houston starter Jake Odorizzi (6-7) and four relievers, but it proved to be enough.

Crawford scored on Abraham Toro’s sacrifice fly in the sixth inning. Toro hit a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning to give Seattle a 4-0 win on Tuesday night. He came up again with the bases loaded on Wednesday and settled for a sacrifice fly.

Gilbert threw five innings before turning to Seattle’s bullpen. Justus Sheffield (6-8) made his first relief appearance in more than two years, allowing one hit. Casey Sadler pitched the seventh, but Houston threatened with Jose Altuve’s walk and Michael Brantley’s single with two outs in the eighth off Drew Steckenrider.

Paul Sewald struck out Carlos Correa to end the eighth inning for the second straight game with Altuve at second base. Yuli Gurriel and Alex Bregman singled with one out in the ninth off Sewald, but Kyle Tucker popped out and Jake Meyers struck out looking for Sewald’s eight save.

On the black for the W.

The @Mariners are 3 games back of a Wild Card spot. 👀 pic.twitter.com/vaGSXmGZLJ

— MLB (@MLB) September 1, 2021

Gilbert lasted only five innings due to a high pitch count. He got a huge defensive play from Crawford in the third inning, making a lunging backhanded stop of a shot by Correa and leaving Altuve stranded at third.

Smooth with it 😎@keybank | #SeaUsRise pic.twitter.com/GxwE9kwRIV

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) September 1, 2021

Gilbert allowed four hits, struck out four and walked none. It was the first time in his last four starts getting through five innings.

Odorizzi started the sixth but ran into trouble after a leadoff single by Crawford and walk to Mitch Haniger. Phil Maton loaded the bases with a one-out walk to Ty France, and Toro got a fly ball deep enough for Crawford to score.

ROSTER MOVES

Houston reinstated RHP Jose Urquidy from the 10-day injured list and recalled RHP Enoli Paredes from Triple-A Sugar Land. Urquidy has been out since late June due to right shoulder inflammation. He recently made three rehab appearances. Paredes appeared in 12 games earlier this season for the Astros as a reliever.

Seattle reinstated Sheffield from the injured list and recalled IF Kevin Padlo from Triple-A Tacoma. Sheffield has been out since July 7 due to a forearm strain and began a rehab assignment with Tacoma on Aug. 15. Padlo was claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay on Aug. 19. Padlo appeared in nine games for the Rays earlier this season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: Manager Dusty Baker said starting pitcher Zack Greinke and first baseman Taylor Jones would “probably not” be traveling with the Astros to San Diego. Greinke and Jones were placed on the injured list on Tuesday due to health and safety protocols related to COVID-19.

UP NEXT

Astros: Following a day off, the Astros open a series in San Diego. Urquidy (6-3, 3.38) will start the opener in place of Greinke.

Mariners: After a day off, Seattle opens a road trip in Arizona. The Mariners have not announced a starter for the opener.

Mariners ink Dipoto and Servais to multi-year contract extensions