Mariners shutout big Rangers bats behind Kirby’s K’s
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – Following a tough loss that saw the Rangers squeak a win as the Mariners bats couldn’t give their starting pitcher any run support in a trend for the team, Seattle was able to bounce back with a shutout victory over Texas. Mariners starter George Kirby delivered another strong outing in his young career, going seven scoreless innings with nine strikeouts and no walks to lead the charge. Kirby finally got some backup, as first baseman Ty France and catcher Tom Murphy drove in two runs each to give him enough support. The win over the Rangers, who have started the year off strong with arguably the best offense in baseball, sets up tomorrow’s rubber match.
Pre-game scenes before the Seattle Mariners took on the Texas Rangers on Monday, May 8th (Photos by Bryan Saldana)
Returning to Kirby’s dreamland
Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby, one of the three Seattle starters that are three or less years into the big leagues, returned to prime form in a big way against a Rangers offense that leads baseball in runs per game. Kirby has been solid throughout the course of the year, every outing better than his first of the season, but this shutout effort was his first of 2023 and since ALDS Game three against the Houston Astros. Battling a Texas team then in the biggest game of his life, Kirby found that next gear to deliver for his team against a Rangers group that Seattle will have to battle with all year long in this tough division. Thankfully, unlike most of the year, his teammates at the plate were able to get him enough run support to secure a victory.
The Texas Rangers batters largely struggled in the second game of the series (Photos by Bryan Saldana)
Using a heavy dosage of his fastball and cutter, Kirby was able to dot up the strike zone as he has known to do, and was only allowed three instances of hard contact. Kirby faced some trouble in the third inning with runners on the corners, but forced a groundout of Nathaniel Lowe to get out of the jam. The rest of the way through, George was able to work cleanly and efficiently as he mixed up his arsenal of pitches and got the Rangers batters to focus largely on his slider before going upstairs with an elevated fastball that they could only weakly fan on. In an early season battle that has the Rangers at the top of the AL West, the young starter gave his team the best shot he could to win this game, it was just up to his bats to back him up.
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby went seven scoreless innings (Photos by Bryan Saldana)
Ty starting to find traction again?
Seattle first baseman Ty France has hit a bit of an early season snag, like many of the batters in the Mariners lineup, but this game was a key for him. The natural hitter was able to rack up two hits on the day, including the two-RBI single that got the scoring going for Seattle. With runners on second and third and two outs, it was a big moment for a team that has struggled heavily with runners in scoring position, let alone in general at the dish. With a single into left field, France scored Tom Murphy from third and was able to get some luck as Sam Haggerty followed suit. Haggerty may have been tagged out at the plate on the throw from left fielder Josh Smith, but the ball clipped off the bat of France on the dirt and allowed Haggerty to slide home safely.
Seattle Mariners first baseman Ty France tallied two hits on the day (Photos by Bryan Saldana)
Murph mode, but with a trident
Seattle catcher Tom Murphy has struggled to begin the season, in a complete 180 from his start to the 2022 campaign. As of near recent games, though, things are starting to turn up for the catcher. Murphy collected the first hit of the day for his team, a double in the bottom of the third and was later driven in by France to represent the first run of the day. A little later, with AJ Pollock having reached on a throwing error, Murphy was able to help the Mariners cash in with a big blast, his first of the season. Murphy hammered a ball right down the middle of the zone, sending it into the Seattle bullpen. It put an exclamation point on the victory, and may help to continue to push Murphy on a nice stretch at the plate.
Seattle Mariners catcher Tom Murphy’s two-run homer helped further the teams lead (Photos by Bryan Saldana)
Quick notes
In the second game of the series, the Mariners picked up a 5-0 win over the Rangers. They tie the series at 1-1 and get back to .500 (18-18) for the 4th time this season.
In their last 9 games, the Mariners are 7-2.
Tonight’s win was the Mariners 3rd shutout win of the season.
In his 8th start of the season, George Kirby threw 7.0 innings, allowed 6 hits, 0 runs (0 ER) and struck out 9 batters. He threw 101 pitches, a new season and career high.
He has recorded a quality start in each of his last 6 starts (4/9-c), trailing only Framber Valdez-HOU for the longest streak in the Major Leagues this season.
His 9 strikeouts in tonight’s game marked a new season high and ties his career high. In 2022, Kirby struck out 9 batters 3 times (last: 8/24/22).
He is the first Mariners pitcher this season to throw 7+ innings in each of their last 3 starts (4/27 @ PHI and 5/4 @ OAK). Logan Gilbert was the last Mariners pitcher to accomplish this feat (5/17/22-5/28/22).
The Mariners have 3 of the top 9 pitchers in the AL by fWAR this season: George Kirby (1.5, 4th), Luis Castillo (1.5, 4th) and Logan Gilbert (1.3, 9th).
Tom Murphy went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and 2 RBI in tonight’s game. It was his 4th multi-hit game of the season so far.
His 2-run home run in the 7th marked his first home run of the season and his first RBI.
He collected the Mariners first hit of the night on a double to left field in the bottom of the 3rd inning.
In his last 7 starts, he is batting .429 (9x21) with 7 hits, 2 doubles, 1 home run and 2 RBI.
Ty France went 2-for-4 and extended his hitting streak to 7 games (5/3-c) after a 2 RBI single in the bottom of the 3rd inning.
Over these last 7 games he is batting .393 (11x28) with 1 double, 1 home run, 3 RBI, 1 walk and 2 HBP.
Jarred Kelenic doubled in the 8th inning to pick up his 11th double this season.
Kelenic has picked up a hit in 7 of 8 games during the month of May so far.
Sam Haggerty singled and advanced to second on the throw in the 3rd inning. It was his first hit since 4/5.
The Mariners bullpen (Justin Topa and Juan Then) combined for 2.0 scoreless innings and allowed 1 walk.
Then picked up his first career strikeout in his 2nd appearance on the year tonight.
AJ Pollock reached base safely twice in tonight’s game and recorded 1 RBI on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 8th inning.
Teoscar Hernandez reached base safely in tonight’s game.
Kolten Wong entered the game at second base in the 7th inning.
The Rangers challenged a catch in left field in the top of the 3rd inning. The call was overturned and Ezequiel Duran singled on a sharp line drive to Jarred Kelenic.
The Rangers challenged a hit by pitch to Mariners batter Jose Caballero in the bottom of the 3rd inning. The call was overturned and ruled a foul ball.
The scene after the Seattle Mariners win (Photos by Bryan Saldana)
What’s next?
Tonight’s win sets up tomorrow’s rubber match with the Rangers, the last contest of a six game homestand against the two Texas teams before Seattle heads out on a tough road trip. The Mariners will have ace Luis Castillo on the mound, looking to get back on track after looking “not like himself” or rather human, in his last few outings. Castillo will battle against Rangers starter Dane Dunning, who’s had strong numbers to begin the 2023 campaign and as a result has helped this Texas team become one of the better in all of baseball. A reminder that although in years past they have seen a lot of struggles, this Rangers team seems to be the real deal this year with Bruce Bochy as their manager. They need to be taken seriously, as the Mariners bats must wake up in order to contend with the, tomorrow, and throughout the regular season.