Seattle Mariners

Gilbert throws 6 perfect innings, but Mariners offense struggles in 2-1 loss to Rangers

Starting pitcher Logan Gilbert retired the Rangers’ first 18 batters on Monday night at T-Mobile Park, but the Mariners’ bats couldn’t generate enough offense to get him his second win of the season as they fell 2-1 in the two teams’ first matchup of the year.

A solo home run by Ty France gave the Mariners an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, but the hits were few and far between after that.

Gilbert took his perfect game into the seventh inning, where Rangers shortstop Marcus Semien broke it up with a single. Another single by Nathaniel Lowe and a walk drawn by Adolis Garcia loaded the bases for Josh Jung, who hit a sacrifice fly to score Semien.

Rangers catcher Jonah Heim followed with another single to center, bringing home Lowe and Garcia and giving Texas a 2-1 lead.

First pitch for game two of the three-game series is set for 6:40 p.m. Tuesday.