George Kirby Makes Significant Adjustment in Historic Start For Seattle Mariners
The right-hander was brilliant over 7.2 innings as the Mariners beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 on Tuesday night.
Video Transcript
Brady Farkas here, your Mariners on Roundtable Sports publisher and Refuse to Lose Territory podcast host.
Credit where credit's due, George Kirby was excellent on Tuesday night in a win over the Phillies, and as a result, the Mariners have taken a series from the Phillies, who are headed to the playoffs in all likelihood, barring total collapse.
They'd won nine straight games heading into this series with the Mariners, and the Mariners have taken the first two games of three, and they'll go for the sweep on Wednesday.
Kirby goes seven-and-two-thirds innings, gives up one run on six hits, one walk only, and he had nine strikeouts.
And again, credit where it's due, I told you last week on the podcast that I thought that Kirby needed to go back to throwing his splitter and/or his change-up more, particularly against left-handed hitters, and give himself a chance to have a pitch that runs away from a left-handed pitcher, right?
He's become very reliant on his curve ball, which comes into a left-handed hitter.
So he threw 14% splitters in this game on Tuesday.
His season average is 2%, so 14% splitters for Kirby.
And look, this is a left-handed lineup featuring Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, who he struck out multiple times, Justin Crawford, Brandon Marsh, Luis Arias.
Like, there are accomplished and professional hitters in this lineup, and Kirby found a way to make everything work, again, with that pitch mix that runs away from lefties.
And that just makes your fastball better because they're not able to lean out over the plate and understand that everything is gonna ultimately be coming right towards the middle again.
So good stuff from Kirby.
Mariners needed it.
They're still 64 and 69, but the playoff odds are up to 44%, so you're telling me there's a chance.
Mariners go for the sweep, 1:10 Pacific Time on Wednesday.
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