The Mariners top pitching prospect put together his best outing in the major leagues to even the series with the Rangers.
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners pulled out a much-needed win on the back of the first major league quality start of left-handed starting pitcher Kade Anderson's career.
The Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 3-2, setting up a rubber match for the three-game series.
"(Anderson) looked to me like he was almost getting stronger as the game went on," Seattle manager Dan Wilson said in a postgame interview Wednesday. "Which is always a good sign. I think his confidence continued to grow there throughout the game."
Anderson started his career-best outing behind after Rangers first baseman Jake Burger hit a solo home run to center field in the top of the second.
The Mariners lineup didn't leave their starting working at a deficit for long. In the bottom of the second, Seattle tied the game with an RBI single from right fielder Taylor Ward to bring home catcher Cal Raleigh.
Raleigh drew a nine-pitch walk after a successful ABS challenge and moved to second on a tag after first baseman Josh Naylor fouled out behind the plate, setting Ward up with a runner in scoring position.
In the bottom of the fourth, Naylor hit a two-out single and Ward drew a walk the next plate appearance. Second baseman Cole Young brought both runners home with a two-RBI double.
Young, who was on a down-stretch in August, is 8-for-26 (.308 batting average) through eight games in September.
"I think the biggest thing is just trying to have good at-bats every day," Young said after the game Wednesday. "I feel like sometimes, in August, trying to do too much or trying to come through in a situation, putting pressure on that. But I feel like, going into this month, just trying to trust my routine. Trust the process. Just try to hit the ball hard somewhere."
Young's double gave the Mariners a 3-1 lead, which Anderson preserved through the duration of his first-ever quality start.
The 22-year-old lefty finished his outing with five strikeouts, one walk and one earned run allowed on six hits (one homer) in six innings of work.
Anderson became the youngest M's pitcher with a quality start since Taijuan Walker in 2015 and the youngest left-handed pitcher with a quality start since Dave Fleming in 1992.
"(Every start's) learning lessons," Anderson said in a postgame interview. "You hold yourself to a standard, you can go back to lean on at times. Obviously, this game is really hard. It'll always be hard. It'll humble you really quick. I think that's why these games, this game in particular, the first (quality start), really means a lot."
Right-handed reliever Seranthony Dominguez preserved Seattle's 3-1 lead in the seventh inning.
The Rangers got back within one of the Mariners after shortstop Corey Seager hit a first-pitch, lead-off solo home run in the top of the eighth that resulted in the eventual final of 3-2.
Speier got through the rest of the eighth without any further damage and closer Andres Munoz came in for the save opportunity in the ninth.
The two-time All-Star issued a lead-off walk to Burger but struck out the final two batters he faced to earn his 26th save of the season in 35 opportunities.
Seattle will attempt to secure a much-needed series win against Texas in the rubber match at 1:10 p.m. PT on Thursday at T-Mobile Park. Logan Gilbert will start for the Mariners and Jacob deGrom will start for the Rangers.
