ANAHEIM, Calif. — In a towering performance, George Kirby set a new personal milestone by striking out 14 batters over seven impressive innings, leading the Seattle Mariners to a much-needed 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels, snapping their five-game losing streak.
Kirby (1-3) demonstrated remarkable control, allowing just two hits with no walks, successfully retiring 21 of his first 22 batters. His 14 strikeouts mark the highest by a Seattle pitcher since James Paxton’s 16 in 2018 and equaled the season’s highest across the majors, tying Miami’s Max Meyer.
The Mariners’ offense was spearheaded by Donovan Solano, whose clutch hit brought in the decisive run in the fifth inning. Randy Arozarena also made significant contributions at the plate with three hits, including an early RBI double, helping the Mariners avoid a series sweep and securing only their fourth victory in the last 14 games.
For the Angels, Taylor Ward shone briefly with a two-run homer in the fourth inning, as the team collectively struggled, striking out 18 times. Despite this setback, the Angels have had a positive stretch, with four wins out of their last six games.
The Mariners fortuitously turned to their reliable closer, Andrés Muñoz, who redeemed his recent performances with his 18th save of the season. Muñoz successfully navigated through the ninth inning, allowing a walk to Jorge Soler but ultimately sealing the victory by striking out the formidable Mike Trout.
Tyler Anderson (2-3) endured a challenging outing for the Angels, conceding eight hits and registering six strikeouts. His efforts extended into the fifth inning, marking his ninth straight appearance without a win.
Arozarena briefly stumbled on the base paths with a 345-foot single, but resiliently recovered by stealing second and later scoring on Jorge Polanco’s single. Solano followed up with another key RBI, forcing Anderson out of the game.
A pivotal moment occurred when Trout broke Kirby’s initial streak with a single, followed by Ward’s 18th homer of the season. However, Kirby regained his composure and recorded a crucial strikeout of Chris Taylor with a well-placed slider.
On the stat sheet, Trout’s performance was notable as he tied a major league record, matching Rafael Palmeiro’s 435 total bases against Seattle. He also scored his 145th career run against the Mariners, joining Rickey Henderson as co-holder of that record.
Looking ahead, Yusei Kikuchi (1-5, 3.23 ERA) will take the mound against the Athletics Monday night, while Emerson Hancock (2-2, 5.19 ERA) will pitch for the Mariners against Arizona.