Staff report
SEATTLE (AP) — Kyle Gibson’s two-game winning streak came to an end Friday.
Julio Rodríguez hit a three-run homer and the Seattle Mariners won Friday night as Luis Castillo and three relievers combined on a four-hitter in a 9-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
Cal Raleigh launched an early two-run shot and Ty France also went deep for the Mariners, who hammered the top team in the American League.
Rodríguez’s homer capped a five-run fourth against the Orioles starter, who gave up nine runs in 5 1/3 innings. The drive just cleared the wall in right field and put Seattle up by six.
The 35-year old Greenfield native gave up 12 hits, including three home runs, and all runs were earned. He struck out four and walked two.
Gibson (11-7) had won his last two starts, including a seven-inning, nine-strikeout performance in a 7-3 victory over the New York Mets on Saturday, Aug. 5. He gave up just one run in six innings in a 4-2 victory at Toronto on July 31.
The win over the Mets was his 100th career victory.
With 11 wins on the season, Gibson is tied for the sixth most in the majors. He’s tied for the second most in the American League. Tampa Bay’s Zach Eflin leads with 12.
The veteran right-hander is tied for the major league lead in starts with 25 and his 145 1/3 innings pitched ranks ninth.
Raleigh gave the Mariners a 2-0 lead in the first. After Anthony Santander put the Orioles on the board with a home run, Seattle broke open the game in the fourth.
José Caballero made it 3-1 with a sacrifice fly, Josh Rojas had an RBI single and Rodríguez clubbed his 19th homer.
France added a solo shot in the fifth, and Rodríguez drove in Rojas in the sixth with an RBI double, the final batter Gibson faced.
Gibson’s next start is scheduled for Friday night at Oakland. Luis Medina is scheduled to start for the Athletics.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story)