Logan Gilbert pitched into the sixth inning, giving up two runs and reaching 200 strikeouts for the season. J.P. Crawford contributed with an important two-out RBI single during Seattle’s three-run first inning, leading the Mariners to a 3-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Thursday.
Seattle won the last game of the series and kept their playoff hopes alive, now just two games behind Minnesota and Detroit for the final wild-card spot in the American League. They are set to go on a six-game road trip to Texas and Houston.
“I don’t think we’re paying too much attention about what’s ahead in terms of the standings,” Seattle manager Dan Wilson said. “I think we’re looking at what we need to do each night, each day. Today we needed to pick up a win. We did.”
After securing a playoff spot the day before, the Yankees saw their lead in the AL East shrink to four games due to Baltimore’s win.
They also faced a big scare in the seventh inning when star outfielder Juan Soto made an impressive catch and slid into the short wall down the right-field line.
After a long check from manager Aaron Boone, athletic trainers, and many teammates, Soto stayed in the game while shaking out his left leg. The play was originally called a foul ball but was changed to a catch after a replay review.
“I think him sliding the way he did served him well. My biggest fear was that he twisted something, and I think sliding like that preserved him a little bit,” Boone said. “Banged his knee pretty good. We’ll get X-rays just to make sure, but as of now, looks like he’ll be OK.”
Seattle scored all their runs in the first inning against Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt. They loaded the bases with one out.
Justin Turner hit a fly ball that allowed Julio Rodríguez to score, but left fielder Jasson Domínguez missed the catch, leading to two unearned runs. Jorge Polanco added a sacrifice fly, and Crawford’s single capped off the big inning.
