<\/p>\n
KANSAS CITY \u2014 When Nick Mears came jogging in from the Royals bullpen to start the seventh inning, you could almost hear a collective sigh coming from the Mariners dugout.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not as if the small crowd Friday night at Kauffman Stadium provided enough noise to drown out such exhortations.<\/p>\n
Why the sense of relief?<\/p>\n
Well, after getting shut down for six innings by lefty Noah Cameron, who struck out eight batters to match a career high, the chance to face a right-handed pitcher offered hope of something better.<\/p>\n
The adjustment was immediate.<\/p>\n
Cole Young worked a leadoff walk and Mitch Garver crushed a 1-0 sinker over the visitors\u2019 bullpen in left field for what would be decisive hit in a 2-0 win for the Mariners.<\/p>\n
The Mariners got a strong pitching performance from starter Logan Gilbert and relievers Eduard Bazardo, Matt Brash and Andres Mu\u00f1oz, who combined to hold the Royals scoreless in a game for the fourth time this season. It was the Mariners\u2019 second combined shutout of the season.<\/p>\n
Gilbert delivered a solid outing for Seattle despite falling an out short of a \u201cquality start\u201d of six-plus innings pitched and three runs or fewer allowed.<\/p>\n
He held the Royals scoreless through five innings and looked dominant, allowing just two base runners \u2014 a first-inning single and a third-inning walk.<\/p>\n
It seemed like he would get through six, having thrown only 71 pitches going into the inning and retiring 13 of the last 14 batters he faced.<\/p>\n
After getting a quick out to start the inning, he lost a seven-pitch battle with leadoff hitter Maikel Garcia, giving up a single to right. Gilbert retired Bobby Witt Jr. on a fly out to left field on another seven-pitch battle. But a seven-pitch walk to Vinnie Pasquantino ended his outing.<\/p>\n
Wilson called on Eduard Bazardo to face veteran slugger Salvador Perez. Bazardo continued the Royals miseries with runners in scoring position, getting Perez to ground into a fielder\u2019s choice to end the inning.<\/p>\n
Gilbert\u2019s final line: 5\u2154 innings scoreless pitched, two singles allowed with two walks and six strikeouts.<\/p>\n
Bazardo returned for the seventh and dominated, striking out the side. Brash worked around a few base runners in the eighth while Mu\u00f1oz worked a drama-free ninth for his ninth save this season.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n