Rookies Kelenic and Gilbert lead Mariners past Rangers 9-5

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Logan Gilbert worked into the sixth inning to win his fifth decision in a row, fellow rookie Jarred Kelenic hit a three-run homer, and the Seattle Mariners beat the rebuilding Texas Rangers 9-5 on Friday night.

The Mariners have won five of their last seven games. They began their 10-game road trip 2½ games behind Oakland for the American League’s second wild-card spot.

Gilbert (5-2), Seattle’s first-round draft pick in 2018, allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings on six hits. He struck out six and walked one before Rangers rookies Adolis Garcia and Jonah Heim hit solo homers in the sixth to chase him.

New Seattle closer Diego Castillo, acquired Thursday from Tampa Bay, pitched a perfect ninth inning in a non-save situation in his Mariners debut.

Garcia hit his 23rd homer for the Rangers, who before Friday's deadline traded fellow All-Star slugger Joey Gallo. Texas, on pace for a 100-loss season, also traded All-Star pitcher Kyle Gibson and closer Ian Kennedy.

The last-place Rangers have lost 14 of 15 games. They dropped to a season-worst 31 games under .500.

Kelenic pulled a 2-1 cutter deep to right field in the third inning off Kolby Allard (2-9) after Luis Torrens doubled to the left-center gap and Abraham Toro beat out an infield hit. It was the first homer for the highly touted 22-year-old Kelenic since getting recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on July 16 — he had hit .096 in his first 23 big league games. He was the centerpiece in the December 2018 trade that sent Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz from Seattle to the New York Mets.

Kelenic drove in his career-high fourth RBI with a ninth-inning fielder’s choice.

Allard, who came to Texas from Atlanta at the trade deadline two years ago, allowed seven runs (six earned) in three innings. He is 1-9...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Rookies-Kelenic-and-Gilbert-lead-Mariners-past-16353877.php