Luis Castillo's masterpiece (7 IP, 8 K) leads the Mariners past the Pirates 1-0 on July 6, 2025. See how Ben Williamson's clutch hit secured the win.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Sometimes, all you need is one. One run, one clutch hit, and one dominant, ace-like performance. The Seattle Mariners got exactly that on Saturday night, riding a vintage Luis Castillo outing to a nail-biting 1-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. In a game that felt like a playoff preview, T-Mobile Park was buzzing as pitching and defense took center stage.
Luis Castillo was outstanding, pitching seven shutout innings, allowing just two singles, and striking out a season-high eight batters on 99 pitches.
Luis Castillo was simply untouchable. From the moment he took the mound, 'La Piedra' was in complete command, carving up the Pirates lineup for seven masterful innings. He surrendered just two harmless singles and didn't walk a batter, striking out a season-high eight. Finishing his night on an efficient 99 pitches, it was the 20th time in his 92 starts as a Mariner that he's gone at least seven innings deep. When your ace performs like an ace, it elevates the entire team, and Castillo's 5-5 record doesn't begin to tell the story of how valuable he's been.
While Castillo baffled hitters, the Mariners' offense was equally stymied for much of the night. But in the sixth inning, they finally broke through. Rookie Ben Williamson stepped up against reliever Caleb Ferguson and laced an RBI double, scoring the game's lone run. That one swing was the difference-maker. But the defense played just as big a role. Julio Rodríguez set the tone in the very first inning with a spectacular, wall-crashing catch to rob Andrew McCutchen of extra bases. After Castillo's exit, the lockdown bullpen duo of Matt Brash and Andrés Muñoz slammed the door, with Muñoz securing his 20th save of the season in a clean ninth.
With the series now tied, Sunday's rubber match has all the makings of a classic. The Mariners will send George Kirby (2-4, 4.85 ERA) to the hill, and he'll be looking for a bounce-back performance. He'll have to be at his absolute best, as he's facing one of the most electric arms in baseball: Pirates rookie phenom Paul Skenes (4-7, 2.03 ERA). It's a fascinating matchup of Kirby's elite command against Skenes's blistering velocity. With the trade front remaining quiet—no new transactions were reported Sunday—the focus is squarely on the players in the clubhouse to secure a massive series win.
Saturday's victory was a perfect recipe for Mariners baseball: dominant starting pitching, stellar defense, and just enough timely hitting. It was a reminder of how dangerous this team can be. Now, they have a chance to take the series against a tough Pirates team. Get ready for a Sunday showdown, because the Kirby vs. Skenes duel is must-see TV.
