George Kirby

Good, Bad, and Ugly: A Look At Mariners’ Blowout 9-2 Loss to Astros in George Kirby’s Return

Well, they were kind of due for one of these.

Despite jumping out to a 2-0 lead, the Seattle Mariners were trounced Thursday by a 9-2 score, dropping the first game of the four-game road set with the Houston Astros.

Let’s take a look a the good, bad and ugly from Thursday’s blowout loss.

Bad: George Kirby Ineffective in Return

Kirby was able to make his first start after missing just short of the first two months of the season with shoulder inflammation in his throwing arm, and the results weren’t great. He gave up five runs while being pulled after 3 2/3 innings, and he allowed six hits in the contest.

While Kirby only walked one batter, it was clear that the right-hander didn’t have his best command for whatever reason(s). He hit Jeremy Pena twice, and he caught too much of the plate even while generating a respectable nine swings-and-misses over his 72 pitches. He gave up two runs in the third, and three more crossed the plate before he was replaced Eduard Bazardo in the fourth. It probably goes without saying and it was obvious just based on Kirby’s face after he exited the contest, but this was not the 2025 season debut he was hoping for.

Good: George Kirby is Back

Look, it didn’t go well, and no one can guarantee that it’ll go well going forward because that’s how sports/life works. But based on his track record, it’s an undeniable positive to have Kirby back in the Mariners rotation. He’s been one of the best starters in baseball over the last three years, and even in a start that had an ugly line like this one, there were moments that reminded you that this is still George Kirby. Again, there may be some hiccups in his return to the bump after missing that much time after his first injury of significance, but that stuff is still there. He’s going to help the Mariners a lot in 2025. I promise.

Bad: The Bullpen Didn’t Help, Either

Kirby wasn’t good, but the bullpen didn’t exactly keep them in the game. Bazardo gave up a homer — more on who hit that homer in a second — to make it a 6-2 game, and Jesse Hahn gave up a three-spot in the sixth. Sure, it was your lowest-leverage relievers pitching in this one, but you expect more than what they gave you. They wouldn’t be on an MLB roster if that wasn’t the case. To be fair, Hahn may not be on a roster by the time you read tomorrow’s column, but yeah, bad bullpen. Bad.

Bad: The Offense After the Second Inning

The Mariners got off to a nice start with an RBI single from Rowdy Tellez in the first and a homer from Dylan Moore an inning later, but that was it for the scoring. They struck out 15 times in the contest, and they blew a bases-loaded chance when they were down 5-2 with an awful at-bat from Leody Taveras to ruin any chance of scoring.

Really, outside of Julio Rodriguez, this offense has looked poor over the last four games.

And speaking of Julio…

Bad-to-Ugly: J-Rod scratched with back tightness

Not long before the first pitch, the Mariners announced that Rodriguez would not be playing Thursday, and now we know why.

It’s worth noting that Rodriguez has dealt with back issues before. The question now is whether or not these are going to keep him out of the lineup for more than just a day or two. Even with some inconsistent offensive efforts in 2025, there’s no denying the Seattle Mariners are a much worse baseball team with him not in the lineup.

Get well Julio, all of Emerald City Spectrum writers volunteer our backs as tribute.

Ugly: Jose Altuve

First, this is not a shot at Altuve’s appearance, before anyone comes after me. But I’m a Seattle Mariner fan. I have rooted for this team for 30-plus years, and I will continue to do so even though they have given me mostly trouble throughout my life. I do not like Jose Altuve. I do not like him at all. I would prefer any other Houston Astro to have a two-homer game against my favorite team. I don’t like you, Jose Altuve. I’m guessing you guys don’t like him, either.