Gilbert pitches 8 scoreless innings for 2nd start in row and Mariners beat Marlins 9-0

MIAMI (AP) — Logan Gilbert pitched eight scoreless innings for the second straight start and the Seattle Mariners beat the Miami Marlins 9-0 on Saturday.

Gilbert (5-4) scattered four hits, struck out six and was aided by three double-play grounders, lowering his ERA to 2.71. The 27-year-old right-hander walked one, ending a string of three straight outings without allowing a base on balls.

“Defense really picked me up today, of course, the offense with the runs, too,” Gilbert said. “If we have 10 runs, I’m still trying to come out with zero runs regardless. Sometimes the close games are more competitive and every pitch matters and you feel that intensity. I’m not wishing for one-run games but it’s fun either way.”

With 92 pitches, Gilbert felt strong enough to pitch the ninth for his second career complete game but accepted the decision to lift him.

“I understand they have our best interests in mind,” Gilbert said. “At the spur of the moment you just want to keep going.”

Dominic Canzone tied his career high of four hits with a homer and three singles, scoring three runs. Ryan Bliss doubled twice and singled for the Mariners, who stopped a three-game skid. Dylan Moore had two doubles among Seattle’s seven extra-base hits.

“You can’t talk about this game without talking about Logan Gilbert and the stretch that he’s on right now,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “It’s been awesome to watch. So proud of him.”

Canzone, Moore and Bliss, the bottom three in Seattle’s batting order, combined to go 9 for 14 with six runs and five RBIs.

“The results obviously are great but I’ve also barreled up some balls and kind of gone at people as well,” Canzone said.

Miami had won its previous three games, all walk-offs.

“We knew we were going to have our hands full with Gilbert,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “He’s been good. It’s not like this was the first time he was good.”

Marlins centerfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. was pinch hit for in the sixth after he experienced right biceps tightness. Chisholm said he first experienced it while making a throw in the fourth inning.

“I felt a cramp in my bicep and they told me to get it treated and get ready for (Sunday),” Chisholm said. “Injuries happen and I’ve been going through it for a couple of years. Now I’m just trying to take care of my body and make sure I can make it through 162.”

Shaun Anderson (0-2) gave up six runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings in his second start for Miami. He was recalled from Triple-A and replaced originally scheduled starter Jesús Luzardo, who went on the 15-day injured list because of a lumbar stress reaction.

Anderson’s run-scoring wild pitch but Seattle ahead in a two-run first that included Cal Raleigh’s sacrifice fly. Canzone and Bliss hit run-scoring singles in a four-run fourth and J.P. Crawford hit a run-scoring grounder that skipped past first baseman Josh Bell for an error that allowed another run to score.

Canzone’s fifth-inning homer off JT Chargois was his seventh this season. Moore and Bliss hit back-to-back RBI doubles against Declan Cronin in the eighth.

“Just a well-played game, offensively we did a lot of good things,” Servais said. “With Logan on the mound, it’s exactly what we needed.”

Marlins infielder Emmanuel Rivera pitched a scoreless ninth around two singles.

TRAINERS’ ROOM

Mariners: OF Julio Rodríguez had the day off after playing on 30 of the prior 31 days.

Marlins: LHP Braxton Garrett was scratched from his start Sunday after he experienced left elbow tightness while throwing his bullpen Friday.

UP NEXT

RHP Bryce Miller (6-5, 3.46) will start the series finale for the Mariners on Sunday while the Marlins will go with RHP Kyle Tyler (0-0, 4.50).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Miami Marlins' Shaun Anderson delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, June 22, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Seattle Mariners' Josh Rojas gets a base hit during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, June 22, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Seattle Mariners' J.P. Crawford (3) is congratulated by Mitch Garver (18) after Crawford scored on a wild pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, June 22, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh hits a sacrifice fly ball to score Josh Rojas during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, June 22, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Seattle Mariners' Logan Gilbert delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, June 22, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

WASHINGTON (AP) — They debated the economy, immigration and foreign policy, but it was an argument over golf handicaps that brought out some of the feistiest comments in Thursday's debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.

Answering a question about his fitness, Trump, who would be 82 at the end of a second term, bragged that he was in “very good shape” and had recently won two championships at one of his golf courses. "To do that, you have to be quite smart and you have to be able to hit the ball a long way,” Trump said.

Biden, he said, “can't hit a ball 50 yards.”

Biden then touted his his own golf abilities. "I got my handicap, when I was vice president, down to six,” Biden said. He again challenged Trump to a golf match, but only if Trump carried his bag of clubs himself.

“Think you can do it?” asked Biden, whose handicap is listed on the United State Golf Association’s website as 6.7, with the last update in July 2018. Trump’s handicap last updated in June 2021 is listed as 2.5. Biden would be 86 at the end of his second term.

Trump called Biden’s handicap claim “the biggest lie of all,” adding: “I’ve seen your swing. I know your swing.”

Trump then sought to shut down the golf discussion.

“Let’s not act like children,” Trump said.

“You are a child,” Biden retorted.

Both men have faced questions on the campaign trail about their physical and mental fitness to lead the nation.

In golf, a handicap is a measure of a player’s skill. The lower the handicap, the better the player is.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump listening to questions during a presidential debate with President Joe Biden, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

This combination of photos shows Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, and President Joe Biden during a presidential debate hosted by CNN, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump gestures during a presidential debate with Joe Biden, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)