Pirates slowed by Mariners’ George Kirby in series finale as Joey Bart homers
PITTSBURGH — George Kirby worked six solid innings, and the Seattle Mariners ended a five-game skid with a 10-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.
Pittsburgh had lost 10 straight before taking the first two this series.
“We came in and won two of three against the best starting pitching in baseball,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “Today, obviously, wasn’t our day. But to come back from the road trip and win two of three, that was important to us. I was pleased with how we responded coming off the trip.”
Kirby (9-9) pitched five shutout innings and allowed two runs and four hits, striking out five and walking two. The 26-year-old right-hander rebounded after surrendering 11 runs and 12 hits in 3 2/3 innings his last time out, a 15-1 loss at Detroit on Aug. 13.
“I just tried to put last week behind me, take a couple things. Learn from it,” Kirby said. “Today, I tried to pitch angry. ... Everyone comes every day to hit, to pitch, whatever it is. We're not trying to feel sorry for ourselves. You just have to be better. Today, we did that.”
The Mariners, who scored a total of nine runs in their previous five games, scored in four of the first five innings and went on to hand the Pirates their 13th loss in 16 games.
“Can't say enough about our group, coming in today with a really good attitude,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “Kind of just a fresh start. ‘Let’s see what we can do, go after it.' Having a lot of fun with where we're at, which is hard to do. It's really hard. But it's a kid's game. You have to try to keep it loose.”
Cal Raleigh put the Mariners ahead with a two-run, opposite-field homer in the first inning, driving his 27th homer of the season 367 feet over the Clemente Wall in right off Jake Woodford (0-5).
Victor Robles added two runs in the second with a double down the left-field line.
Josh Rojas led off a three-run fourth inning with a 408-foot home run to center. Leo Rivas scored when third baseman Jared Triolo tossed a possible double-play ball off the bat of Julio Rodríguez into right field. Robles scored on a sacrifice fly from Luke Raley.
Woodford went four innings, giving up seven runs on nine hits, before Ryder Ryan allowed a solo home run to Dominic Canzone with one out in the fifth.
Pittsburgh didn’t get to Kirby until the sixth. Joey Bart sent a fastball 430 feet to right-center for a two-run homer, cutting the Pirates' deficit to 8-2 with his career-high 12th homer of the season.
“It was hard for me to reel it back in in the fifth and sixth,” Kirby said. “Got a little wild. Walks, home run. But yeah, I'm just happy. Quality start. Give the team a good chance to win.”
Rivas drove in the second of two seventh-inning runs for the Mariners with a two-out single.
Pirates: RHP Jared Jones (right lat strain) will make at least one more rehab start with Triple-A Indianapolis, general manager Ben Cherington said during his weekly radio appearance. The 23-year-old rookie was 5-6 with a 3.56 ERA in 16 starts before going on the 15-day injured list on July 4.
Pirates: RHP Luis Ortiz (5-3, 3.41) will start Monday at Texas. The Rangers have not announced a starter.
