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. 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). Raleigh’s homer was the 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. 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 year.
