Seattle Mariners pitcher George Kirby threw a complete game on April 8, but the team lost to the Texas Rangers 3-2 at Globe Life Field. Despite going the distance in just 90 pitches, Kirby was handed his first loss against Texas after previously dominating them in ten straight starts.
The result marks Seattle’s fourth consecutive defeat and their sixth loss in seven games. The outcome was determined by a fifth-inning home run from Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka, which proved decisive despite Kirby’s strong overall performance.
Mariners manager Dan Wilson said, “He pitched his heart out. Eight innings, gave us a chance to win that one — and really, at the end of the ballgame, was throwing just as well as he was at the beginning of the ballgame. The velo was there, the stuff was there. What we’ve seen from George so far has been outstanding.”
Kirby allowed only two runs on a single mistake pitch and did not issue any walks for the first time this season. He struck out four batters and retired twelve straight hitters after giving up Higashioka’s home run. “I was aggressive with my heaters in the zone pretty much all day, so I knew they were swinging,” Kirby said. “I just tried to make quality strikes at that point, got a lot of ground balls, which was great. Just the one home run … it is what it is.” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said about Kirby: “He went complete game. He was just really, really good tonight… He’s dominated a lot of teams… He’s just a complete pitcher, and always a tough matchup.”
Wilson added praise for his starter’s effort late into the game: “What was coming out of his hand was still electric … It was just an outstanding night for George,” Wilson said. “We’ve seen this from him; he stays focused. He was locked in tonight.”
The Mariners’ offense improved slightly compared to Monday’s performance but could not capitalize when needed most during their ninth-inning rally attempt. Brendan Donovan hit a leadoff homer for Seattle while Luke Raley singled in the ninth but failed to advance further due to an error rounding first base.
Raley commented on his baserunning miscue: “I knew I had to go try and get in scoring position… if someone saw it, it’s better me being on first base than not on base at all. So stupid mistake … it just can’t happen.”
