Logan Gilbert nearly perfect as Mariners top A's 6-4 in final game in Oakland jerseys

SEATTLE (AP) — Logan Gilbert took a perfect game into the sixth inning to cap the best season of his career and Cal Raleigh hit a record-setting two-run homer as the Seattle Mariners beat the Athletics 6-4 on Sunday in their final game representing Oakland.

The final time for the A's with “Oakland” across the front of their gray road uniforms was nearly a historic day for Gilbert. He was overpowering from the outset and retired the first 17 batters of the game before Nick Allen's soft single into left field with two outs in the sixth inning.

That was it for Gilbert, who struck out seven and finished the season with 208 2/3 innings pitched, becoming the first Seattle pitcher to lead baseball in innings for a season. Gilbert (9-12) finished with 220 strikeouts and lowered his ERA to 3.23. And while Detroit's Tarik Skubal seems to be the consensus choice for the AL Cy Young Award, Gilbert should finish high in the voting.

“I know I get a lot of time off so I was just going to leave it all out there. I felt like I at least owed that to the fans and I know I'm going to be wishing on a random day in December or January I was at T-Mobile (Park) pitching against whoever," Gilbert said.

Raleigh's two-run homer to cap Seattle’s four-run fifth inning came on the final pitch from A’s starter Mitch Spence (8-10). It was Raleigh's 34th of the season and 93rd in his career, passing Mike Piazza for the most home runs by a catcher in their first four seasons.

The homer also gave Raleigh 100 RBIs, the first catcher in franchise history to reach that mark.

“That was a really cool moment. The past couple of days my phone's been blowing up, ‘Got to get to 100, got to get to 100.’ I'd obviously trade it in a heartbeat for a spot in the playoffs but that'll be a cool little feat to look back on one day," Raleigh said.

Justin Turner added a two-run single and Victor Robles and Julio Rodríguez both capped hot Septembers with RBI hits.

Seattle finished 85-77 after sweeping the A's, but for the first time in several years, the final series was meaningless for the Mariners after being eliminated from playoff contention on Thursday.

The final day for Oakland (69-93) was filled with appreciation and honor for the A's, along with feelings of sadness the team no longer would represent the East Bay city next season. The A's will relocate to Sacramento for the next few years before a planned move to Las Vegas.

Fans of the green and gold turned out for the finale, starting “Let's go Oakland” chants throughout the game, many of them wearing shirts or carrying signs imploring the A's current ownership to sell the team.

“The emotion of Thursday will never be matched, but today knowing the last game with the Oakland jersey, and the ‘Let’s go Oakland' chants in the ninth inning as loud as they were in a visiting stadium was pretty impressive,” A's manager Mark Kotsay said.

Tyler Nevin had a two-run double in the seventh inning to make sure Oakland's final game didn't end in a shutout and Darell Hernaiz had a two-run double in the ninth.

Baseball Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson threw out the ceremonial first pitch on the final day, wearing a half-A’s, half-Mariners jersey. While Henderson played the majority of his career in Oakland, he spent part of one season with Seattle in 2000.

Seattle finished the season with an unofficial total attendance of 2,554,868 after drawing 42,177 for the finale. That’s down slightly from last season when Seattle drew 2,690,418.

The A’s and Mariners will see each other again in Seattle to open next season on March 27, 2025.

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

Fans cheer as former Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics player Rickey Henderson delivers the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Mariners and Athletics, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert throws against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Former Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics player Rickey Henderson walks out to deliver the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Mariners and Athletics, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Oakland Athletics third base coach Eric Martins signs autographs for fans before a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

A person casts a shadow on the Oakland Athletics on-deck circle before a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Oakland Athletics' Daz Cameron stands in the dugout during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Oakland Athletics manager Mark Kotsay looks out to the field during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert throws against the Oakland Athletics during the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh follows through on a two-run home run against the Oakland Athletics during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Mitch Spence throws against the Seattle Mariners during the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez, facing, greets Cal Raleigh (29) after scoring on Raleigh's two-run home run against the Oakland Athletics during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert walks back to the dugout as fans cheer after being pulled from the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

A fan waves an Oakland Athletics flag as Oakland Athletics' Seth Brown stands at the railing before a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh hits a two-run home run against the Oakland Athletics during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

CHICAGO (AP) — Elly De La Cruz hit two-run triple in the 10th inning to break a scoreless tie and the Cincinnati Reds ended their season with a 3-0 shutout of the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.

De La Cruz tagged Ethan Roberts (1-1) for the go-ahead hit down the right field line on an 0-2 count after Luke Maile singled and Jonathan India walked. Tyler Stephenson came up next and drove in De La Cruz with a single to center to help the Reds end a five-game skid.

Tony Santillan (3-3) got the win and Buck Farmer worked the bottom of the 10th for his first save.

The Cubs, seeking a sweep of the Reds, managed just three hits as Cody Bellinger and Dansby Swanson got the day off.

Caleb Kilian made his first start of the season for the Cubs and allowed three hits and two walks with four strikeouts in five innings. Hunter Greene worked the first four for Cincinnati and gave up a hit with three walks and three strikeouts.

De La Cruz had a pair of stolen bases and finished the season with an MLB-best 67. He’s the first Cincinnati player to lead the majors in steals since Bobby Tolan swiped 57 in 1970.

Luis Vazquez logged his first career hit for Chicago, which matched last season’s 83-79 mark.

Cincinnati finished the year 77-85, a five-win decline from last year. The Reds haven’t posted consecutive winning seasons in more than a decade. The club also will be looking for a new manager during the offseason to replace David Bell, who was dismissed last week after six seasons.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: Reliever Keegan Thompson left in the middle of an eighth-inning at-bat with an undisclosed injury.

TURNSTILE COUNT

The Cubs sold 2,990,794 tickets this season, a little more than 15,000 more than last summer. Fans were hoping for a postseason berth during the offseason, when Chicago made Craig Counsell the highest-paid manager in the game’s history. The Cubs never could make up any ground on NL Central winner Milwaukee in the season’s final month.

UP NEXT

Cincinnati begins its spring season Feb. 22 with a split-squad visit from Cleveland and a trip to Milwaukee’s training complex.

Chicago gets its exhibition slate started with a Feb. 20 game at the Los Angeles Dodgers’ complex.

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

Chicago Cubs starter Caleb Kilian delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Cincinnati Reds starter Hunter Greene delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz watches his two RBI double during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)