Much of the success the Seattle Mariners have had the past few years has been built around their starting rotation. It's one of the best in the game.
They're proving it again this week during their American League Division Series with the Detroit Tigers. And Logan Gilbert was the latest star.
Gilbert pitched six innings Tuesday night, allowing just one run and four hits in Seattle's 8-4 win. It gave them a 2-1 lead in the series, and they can wrap it up on Thursday. Game 4 is Wednesday at 3:08 p.m. ET at Comerica Park in Detroit.
"It’s awesome to be in this position,” Gilbert said after the game. “At the same time, we’re a long way away. Nine innings is a long time. I love the momentum we have. Hopefully, we can win it in four.''
The Mariners got home runs from Eugenio Suarez, J.P. Crawford and Cal Raleigh. It was Suarez's first hit of the series. He also made a huge defensive play, which Mariners Roundtable Brady Farkas wrote about after the game. To read the story, CLICK HERE
Crawford has been in the Mariners' organization since 2018 and he's seen a lot of heartache, too. Now they're on the brink of something special.
"(I signed) for this moment right here," Crawford said in a postgame news conference Tuesday. "We had a good foundation and I love the city. We have a house up there, we stay up there. I love everything about Seattle. And now looking at this part of it, this is great."
To read Mariners Roundtable reporter Teren Kowatsch's story on Crawford live from Detroit, CLICK HERE
Here's one last stat for you from the ALDS: In three games, starters George Kirby, Luis Castillo and Gilbert have combined to pitch 15 2/3 innings and have allowed just three runs. That's a 1.73 earned run average.
Mariners, Tigers ALDS schedule, results
GAME 1 (Saturday, Oct. 4): Detroit Tigers 3, Seattle Mariners 2, 11 innings at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Wash. WP — Will Vest (1-0). LP — Carlos Vargas (0-1). Save — Keider Montero (1). Tigers lead series 1-0.
GAME 2 (Sunday, Oct. 5): Seattle Mariners 3, Detroit Tigers 2 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Wash. WP — Matt Brash (1-0). LP — Kyle Finnegan (1-1). Save — Andres Munoz (1). Series tied 1-1.
GAME 3 (Tuesday, Oct. 7 ): Seattle Mariners 8, Detroit Tigers 4 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Mich. WP — Logan Gilbert (1-0). LP — John Flaherty (0-1). Mariners lead series 2-1.
GAME 4 (Wednesday, Oct. 8): Seattle Mariners at Detroit Tigers, 3:08 p.m. ET. TV: FOX Sports 1.
GAME 5 (Friday, Oct. 10) if necessary: Detroit Tigers at Seattle Mariners, 4:40 p.m. ET. TV: FOX.