George Kirby Is In Elite Company With Just Three Other Pitchers and The League Needs to Pay Attention

Alright, Seattle, listen up! You hear about Merrill Kelly down in Arizona? Dude’s going for his second straight complete game today, trying to sweep the San Francisco Giants. That’s wild, right? Complete games are like Bigfoot sightings these days. But what’s even WILDER, what really grabbed me, is what this whole conversation means for *our* guy, George Kirby!

Merrill Kelly's Throwback Quest

Seriously, complete games? They’re practically extinct. Kelly just threw his first in 178 career starts last Friday against the Colorado Rockies, a dominant 9-1 win where he only gave up four hits. The D-backs have been on a roll, winning four of their last five games, a streak that started with Kelly’s gem. Dude’s 37 years old, too, making him the oldest pitcher to ever complete a game at Coors Field. His manager, Torey Lovullo, was hyped, saying, "It was a great moment. This is what you work hard for in the offseason ... so you can go out there and throw a CG. Doesn't happen a lot in baseball anymore." And he’s absolutely right! Kelly (3-3, 5.91 ERA) is going up against his former teammate Tyler Mahle (1-5, 5.59), so this is no easy task.

George Kirby's Statement to the League

But here's the thing, M's fans: guess who was one of only THREE other pitchers in the *entire majors* to throw a complete game this season, right there with Miami's Sandy Alcantara and Minnesota's Bailey Ober? OUR OWN GEORGE KIRBY! While Kelly is chasing history today, George already put his stamp on it. Since then, Philly's Cristopher Sanchez and the A's J.T. Ginn have joined the club, but George was one of the first ones to get it done. This is a message about the kind of talent we’ve got throwing heat from the mound at T-Mobile Park. Only three pitchers managed *two* complete games all of last season, and the last guy in the majors to throw back-to-back nine-inning complete games was Corey Kluber way back in August 2017! It’s rare air, and our guy is breathing it. Meanwhile, the Giants are still reeling after blowing a 3-1 lead with two outs in the bottom of the ninth less than 24 hours ago, a game ending on a Ketel Marte three-run homer off Matt Gage. Their manager, Tony Vitello, took the heat, admitting, "I made the wrong decision and it cost us the game. It's on me." That's classic baseball drama!

Emerald City Is Ready for More!

So yeah, Kelly's chase is cool, but what Kirby already did? That's what we’re buzzing about here in the Emerald City! It just shows the kind of electric arm we have on this M’s squad. We’ve got a guy who can go the distance, a true ace, and it's early enough in the season for this kind of dominance to set a tone. Let’s keep that energy rolling! Get ready for the next time George takes the hill, because if he's pulling off complete games like this, it’s going to be a season to remember for our M's. Go M's!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.