SEATTLE MARINERS

Kirby sets record, Julio joins 20/20 club, but Mariners fall to Nats

Aug 24, 2022, 5:03 PM | Updated: Aug 25, 2022, 9:41 am


              Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez hits a solo home run off Washington Nationals relief pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
            
              Seattle Mariners rightfielder Mitch Haniger cannot get to a homerun ball hit by Washington Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
            
              Washington Nationals' Nelson Cruz hits an RBI-single off Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
            
              Washington Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas hits a two-run home run off Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Paul Sewald during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, in Seattle. The Nationals won 3-1. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
            
              Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez is congratulated by Carlos Santana in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
            
              Seattle Mariners starter George Kirby delivers a pitch during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

SEATTLE (AP) — Mariners right-hander George Kirby set a major league record by throwing 24 straight strikes to start the game and fellow Seattle rookie Julio Rodríguez reached a new level, but Ildemaro Vargas hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning that lifted the Washington Nationals to a 3-1 win Wednesday.

Nationals 3, Mariners 1: Box score

Kirby gave up five hits and one run before throwing his first ball to Joey Meneses in the third. Kirby topped the mark of 21 consecutive strikes to open by Joe Musgrove for Pittsburgh against St. Louis in 2018.

“I looked up at 15 or 16, and I was like ‘Oh, man,'” Kirby said.

Rodríguez hit his 20th home run, tying it at 1 in the eighth. The 21-year-old sensation who put on quite a show at the All-Star Home Run Derby became the fourth rookie in big league history with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the same season, joining Mitchell Page (1977 Athletics), Ellis Burks (1987 Red Sox) and Marty Cordova (1995 Twins).

“I’m happy about it,” Rodríguez said. “Not a lot of people do it all the time.”

Rodríguez leads all rookies in home runs and has stolen 23 bases.

The teams split its brief two-game series, with Seattle winning three of four this year after sweeping Washington in a doubleheader July 13. The Mariners hold the third and final spot in the AL wild-card race while the Nationals have the worst record in the majors.

Vargas homered with two outs off Paul Sewald (3-4), who had not given up an earned run since July 26. It was his third homer of the year, two of them for Washington after he began the year with the Chicago Cubs.

“Super excited in that moment,” Vargas said through a translator. “Anything I can do to help the team win. I’m here to do the little things and take advantage of the opportunities.”

Kyle Finnegan (5-2) allowed a couple of baserunners in the ninth before retiring Cal Raleigh on a flyout.

Nationals starter Anibal Sánchez allowed no runs and two hits in 4 1/3 innings. In his last two outings, the 38-year-old has given up one earned run and three hits in 9 1/3 innings.

“The one thing I could say about Aníbal right now is he keeps us in the ball game,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said.

Kirby struck out nine in seven innings, giving up eight hits without a walk.

Nelson Cruz hit an RBI single in the first.

STREAK CONTINUES

Washington has gone 41 straight games without its starter being the winning pitcher. It’s the longest drought in major league history. Despite the unfortunate streak, Sánchez’s last three outings resulted in wins for the Nationals.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mariners: LF Sam Haggerty is dealing with an isolated deltoid strain but is progressing, manager Scott Servais said. Haggerty is expected to be ready Thursday against Cleveland. He’s available off the bench if needed.

UP NEXT

Nationals: Top pitching prospect RHP Cade Cavalli will make his major league debut at home vs. Cincinnati on Friday. In his last outing with Triple-A Rochester on Aug. 20, he pitched five innings, allowing one run and striking out eight. He’s 6-4 with a 3.71 ERA in 20 games this season with Washington’s top affiliate. Cavalli was selected 22nd overall in the first round of the 2020 MLB draft by the Nationals.

Mariners: LHP Marco Gonzales (8-12, 4.08) looks to carry momentum into Thursday’s home game against Cleveland. He gave up one run in Seattle’s 10-2 win over Oakland last week.

ESPN’s Passan: Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez could get paid “like nobody else”

Team: mariners
203
Date Starting Pitcher
Tuesday, September 26 @ 6:40 pm Astros' Cristian Javier RHP vs. Mariners' George Kirby RHP

Mariners Roof Report

Brought to you by
Showers And Thunderstorms
High 64° | Low 52°
Roof is open
Astros at Mariners today at 6:40pm

Seattle Mariners

Seattle Mariners Eugenio Suárez...

The Associated Press

Verlander silences Mariners as Astros win key series opener 5-1

Justin Verlander took a shutout into the ninth inning, and the Houston Astros created some cushion in the AL playoff chase with a 5-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night.

14 hours ago

Seattle Mariners Luis Castillo...

Brent Stecker

Video: Seattle Mariners Breakdown — Can M’s rebound to make playoffs?

Bob Stelton of Seattle Sports' Wyman and Bob answers five big questions about the Seattle Mariners going into their huge final homestand.

20 hours ago

Seattle Mariners...

Brent Stecker

Seattle Mariners postseason tickets to go on sale this week

The Seattle Mariners announced on sale and presale details Monday morning for potential 2023 MLB postseason games.

23 hours ago

Seattle Mariners Jarred Kelenic...

The Associated Press

Seattle Mariners comeback falls short in 9-8 loss as Texas sweeps

Marcus Semien homered twice, Corey Seager had a go-ahead, two-run shot and the Texas Rangers held on to beat the Seattle Mariners 9-8 on Sunday to finish a three-game sweep in a crucial AL West series.

2 days ago

Seattle Mariners...

The Associated Press

Rangers get 7 scoreless from Montgomery in 2-0 win over Mariners

Jordan Montgomery pitched seven scoreless innings, Jonah Heim drove in a run and the AL West-leading Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners 2-0.

3 days ago

Seattle Mariners...

The Associated Press

Rangers back atop AL West after 8-5 win in opener over Mariners

The Texas Rangers jumped out to an early lead and held on for an 8-5 win over the Seattle Mariners in the opener of the key AL West series.

4 days ago

Kirby sets record, Julio joins 20/20 club, but Mariners fall to Nats