Kirby’s Gem Lifts Mariners Into AL West Tie
It was one of those nights where pitching completely stole the show. In Baltimore, George Kirby delivered exactly the kind of performance Mariners fans remember from his 2023 All-Star campaign — calm, controlled, and absolutely in command. Over seven scoreless innings, Kirby allowed only three hits, struck out seven, and didn’t walk a single batter. He needed just 87 pitches to get through it, setting the tone for a crisp 1-0 Seattle win over the Orioles.
That victory wasn’t just another tally in the win column — it moved the Mariners into a tie with the Houston Astros for first place in the AL West. Less than six weeks ago, Seattle trailed by as many as seven games. But since the trade deadline, when the Mariners bolstered their roster with Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suárez, and reliever Caleb Ferguson, they’ve gone on a tear, winning 10 of their last 11.
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The lone run came in the first inning. Randy Arozarena reached on a leadoff single, stole second, and with two outs, Naylor drove him in with a sharp base hit. That was it for the scoring, but on a night like this, it was all Kirby needed. The bullpen — Eduard Bazardo, Gabe Speier, and Andrés Muñoz — took it the rest of the way, sealing Seattle’s ninth shutout of the season.
Dean Kremer, Baltimore’s starter, deserved better than a loss. The right-hander went a season-high eight innings, giving up just that one run on five hits. He kept the game within reach, but his offense never found a way to solve Kirby. The Orioles managed only a few legitimate scoring chances, their best coming in the fourth when Gunnar Henderson hustled out a double — but he was stranded.
There was a bit of late drama in the ninth when Muñoz, facing the sweltering Camden Yards humidity, walked Henderson and then needed a brief mound visit after feeling light-headed. A quick dose of electrolytes had him back in action, and though Adley Rutschman followed with a single, Ryan Mountcastle grounded out to end it.
For Kirby, this outing marked his fourth consecutive quality start and pushed his ERA to a season-best 3.71, dipping below 4.00 for the first time this year. In his last nine starts, he’s posted a 2.31 ERA, allowing three runs or fewer in nearly all of them. Manager Dan Wilson summed it up best: Kirby looked in control all night, even breezing through his final inning on just five pitches.
Seattle now has 42 games left to decide the AL West race, locked in a dead sprint with Houston. Momentum is on the Mariners’ side, and with Cal Raleigh chasing multiple home run records, there’s even more electricity surrounding this team. For now, Kirby’s latest gem is just another spark in a season that’s heating up fast.
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