George Kirby Was Brilliant, But the Mariners Got Torched in the Desert Heat
Well, that's a tough pill to swallow. After exploding for 20 runs the night before, the Mariners mustered just one lonely run against the Cubs in a 7-1 loss at the Peoria Sports Complex on a brutally hot night in spring training. It's the kind of game that stings even though it's still March, because you know how important these final tune-ups are before the regular season kicks off.
Kirby Looked Sharp When It Mattered
Here's the good news: George Kirby reminded everyone why he's in the rotation moving forward. The right-hander worked 5 1/3 innings, giving up just one run on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Yeah, he coughed up a run in the first inning, but after that? Pure dominance. Kirby settled in and threw four straight scoreless innings, working really well in tandem with Cal Raleigh behind the plate. This is exactly the kind of confidence you want heading into the regular season.
"I'm super excited," Kirby said about the season ahead. "Yeah, the weather's gonna be different, but having that atmosphere and the energy in the crowd in the stands for the first week can be pretty exciting to be back into. I'm stoked, and I think everybody else here is ready to get back."
The Offense Just Disappeared
The Mariners' lone run came in the second inning when Josh Naylor scurried home from second on a wayward pickoff throw from Cubs starter Colin Rea. That was basically it. After putting up 20 runs the previous night, the bats went completely silent against Chicago.
Manager Dan Wilson acknowledged the rough night offensively but stayed focused on the positives. "After the big explosion offensively last night, not as much offense tonight, only the five hits. But I thought George threw the ball very well. A little bit of a slow start for him, but I think he really settled in about that third inning. I thought he and Cal worked really well together. I think this was a good way for him to end the Cactus League down here and be ready to go north."
The game drew 11,029 fans on a sweltering 101-degree night, part of what's been an incredibly successful spring training attendance-wise. The Mariners drew 121,888 fans for their home games this spring, the most since 2016.
What's Next
The Mariners head to Camelback Ranch on Sunday to face the Chicago White Sox in the penultimate Cactus League game. Bryan Woo gets the start for Seattle, with first pitch pushed back to 6:05 p.m. PT because of the extreme heat in the Phoenix area. You can catch it on MLB.TV or Seattle Sports 710-AM.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.