Logan Gilbert leads Mariners past Reds for first series win of season

Cincy shortstop Elly De La Cruz, who has one of the strongest arms in all of MLB, made a terrific relay throw to home. The ball beat Garver but catcher Luke Maile couldn’t hang onto it as Garver slid into home. Home plate umpire John Libka, not seeing the ball had come out of Maile’s glove, called Garver out.

But third base umpire Jonathan Parra alerted Libka to what had happened and Garver, who went back and touched home plate again at the behest of on-deck hitter Josh Rojas, was called safe.

Cincinnati’s lone run off Gilbert came in the top of the fifth. With one out and runners on first and third, Stuart Fairchild, who was born and raised in Seattle and briefly played for the Mariners, hit a high chopper up the middle. The only play was to first base, allowing a run to score a tie the game at 1-1.

It didn’t remain tied for long.

With Greene out of the game after the fourth, the Mariners picked up a run in the fifth and a run in the sixth against the Reds bullpen.

Facing one-time Mariner reliever Emilio Pagan, Julio Rodriguez led off with his second of two hits to start the bottom of the fifth. A one-out single from mitch Haniger and a walk to Cal Raleigh loaded the bases. Garver worked another walk to force a run across.

Seattle made it 3-1 in the sixth. J.P. Crawford singled with one out and later came around to score on Haniger’s crisp, two-out single to center off Fernando Cruz.

The Reds threatened in the seventh. With two outs, Gilbert walked Jake Fraley. It snapped a string of 35 consecutive innings pitched without a walk for the Mariners — a new club record.

Manager Scott Servais called on Andres Munoz to face De La Cruz. He walked De La Cruz to put the tying run on base. It looked like the Reds had cut the lead to 3-2 when pinch-hitter Nick Martini singled to left center. But Rodriguez made a terrific throw to third base to get De La Cruz for the third out before Fraley could cross home plate.

There was more late-inning drama in the ninth. Ryne Stanek couldn’t close out the victory. The Reds loaded the bases with two outs, aided by Ty France’s fielding error at first base. But Tayler Saucedo came on and picked up the save, getting Tyler Stephenson to fly out to center to end the game.