Logan Gilbert's gem went unrewarded as the Mariners fell further behind in the standings.
SEATTLE — There would be few 2-1 games that felt as out of reach as Friday's at T-Mobile Park, which featured the Seattle Mariners on the wrong end of that score against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The loss dropped the Mariners further behind in the standings behind American League West rivals the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers, who both won their respective games Friday.
The loss dropped the M's to 56-61, four games out of first place in the American League West and 2.5 games out of the final AL wild card spot.
All the damage done by the Rays came in the first third of the game.
In the top of the second inning, Tampa Bay center fielder Jonny DeLuca hit a solo home run to center field to give his team a 1-0 advantage.
Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda bolstered the visitors' lead to 2-0 in the top of the third with his own solo blast.
Those two solo shots were the only blemishes on an otherwise stellar night for Seattle starting pitcher Logan Gilbert. He finished his quality start with six strikeouts, four walks and two earned runs allowed on four hits (two homers) in 6.2 innings pitched. He was able to get around several potential jams, including one in the top of the fifth.
In that frame, right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. hit a lead-off double and advanced to third after a sacrifice bunt from second baseman Richie Palacios.
Mesa was tagged out at home after shortstop Taylor Walls attempted his own sac bunt that resulted in a fielder's choice. Walls was picked off at first after a successful challenge by the Mariners to end the inning.
"They are a good team," Gilbert said in a postgame interview Friday. "For good reason, you see the standings. Good hitters, good pitchers. ... You got to just execute all night and you leave a pitch over in the middle, you can see what happens."
Despite the damage being limited to just the two solo shots, Seattle's offense was unable to cash in on its own opportunities to even the score.
The Mariners best opportunity to make something happen came in the bottom of the second.
Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. This brought up shortstop Colt Emerson, who struck out swinging on three pitches — including two above the zone.
The high fastball plagued the Mariners again in the game when designated hitter swung at one high outside and was called out looking on one high and inside in the bottom of the fourth. He was unable to challenge the strike three call due to the team being out of challenges at that point in the game.
"We talk about not chasing up there a lot," M's manager Dan Wilson said after the game Friday. "It's something that (Tampa Bay starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen) did a pretty good job of tonight. ... Often times, noncompetitive misses up there. But I felt like he was around that top rail and that makes it difficult to make a decision on it. We got gyus that want to be aggressive and square balls up. ... I thought Rasmussen had the good fastball up there, and hard to square."
After Seattle came up empty with the bases juiced, it wasn't until the eighth inning where it had another real opportunity to score. Third baseman Brendan Donovan was hit by a pitch and Emerson hit a single to give the Mariners runners on first and second with one out.
Right fielder Taylor Ward struck out and second baseman Cole Young grounded out to leave runners stranded. The Mariners finished 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left five on-base.
Seattle's only run came via center fielder Julio Rodriguez, who hit a solo shot with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. First baseman Josh Naylor came up following the homer and struck out looking on three pitches to end the game.
The Mariners will look to even the series against Tampa Bay in game two at 6:50 p.m. PT on Saturday. A pregame ceremony honoring the top 50 players in Seattle history will take place at 5:30 p.m. PT before the game.
George Kirby will start for the Mariners and Griffin Jax will start for the Rays.
