George Kirby was the engine and the Seattle Mariners gave him just enough support Tuesday night, riding a sharp all-around effort to a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at T-Mobile Park.
The victory gave Seattle its second straight series win against a National League team in the playoff picture, and Kirby was at the center of it from the first inning to the moment Dan Wilson finally went to the bullpen in the eighth. The right-hander worked 7.2 innings, struck out nine, walked one and gave up one earned run on six hits for his 11th quality start of the season.
“(I did) a lot of work during the week,” Kirby said after the game. “Getting my mechanics right. ... And then just let it flow, be free.”
Kirby’s night ended after he punched out Kyle Schwarber swinging, got Trea Turner to fly out and then allowed a single to Bryce Harper. That brought Wilson out to get him with 37,600 fans at T-Mobile Park letting him hear exactly how they felt about the move.
“Those decisions are difficult,” Wilson said in a postgame interview. “George, he was still, seemingly, fairly strong but we just felt like that was a good opportunity there.
And (Jose A. Ferrer) came in, did the job, got the (left-handed hitter) and we were on our way.
But can't say enough about the job George did tonight.”
Seattle’s offense did its work in pieces against Aaron Nola, the Phillies starter and brother of Mariners bullpen coach Austin Nola. Nola struck out seven, walked three and allowed two earned runs on three hits, including one homer, over six innings.
That homer came off the bat of Cal Raleigh, who tied the game in the bottom of the second with a solo blast to right field. It was Raleigh’s fourth home run in two games.
The Mariners finally nudged in front in the sixth. Julio Rodriguez opened the inning with a first-pitch single, stole second and then scored when Josh Naylor lined an RBI single. Naylor was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double, but Seattle had the lead it needed.
“Great jump (by Julio) to be able to get second there,” Wilson said. “A great opportunity to get a bag, to get himself into scoring position.
Offensively, (turned) the dials where we could tonight. A couple stolen bases, getting into scoring position.
You knew it was probably going to be a low-scoring game the way the guys were throwing so every little bit helps there.”
Seattle added insurance in the seventh after Philadelphia turned to lefty Brooks Raley with the bases loaded and two outs. Dominic Canzone, who earlier this season would have been lifted for a pinch-hitter in that spot, stayed in and delivered a two-run single up the middle to make it 4-1.
“It’s probably a few months ago (they let me stay in against left-handed pitchers),” Canzone said in a postgame interview. “Never really had a conversation with anybody about it but once you get a few games against a starting lefty, (you) kind of know you’re in there for the ball game. ...
Not taking it for granted. Just trying to keep the pedal to the metal and keep doing your job for the team.”
The Mariners moved to 64-69 with the win. They’re 2.5 games out of first place in the American League West and 2.5 games back of the final wild card spot in the American League.
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