SEATTLE– George Kirby struck out a career-high 12 hits in seven scoreless innings, Ty France hit a two-run home run and the Seattle Mariners beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 on Saturday night.
Kirby (3-2) gave up two hits, recorded eight of his first nine strikeouts and retired his last 14 batters. He had his only trouble in the third, giving up a double to Blaze Alexander and a walk to Jake McCarthy before striking out Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in the third.
Kirby reached 99.3 mph with his fastball and induced 23 swings and errors.
“Wow, George Kirby,” Mariners coach Scott Servais said. “It’s tough to get it right tonight on both ends, but our guy was fantastic. I can’t say enough about where he came out in the first round, probably as good as we’ve seen him all year.
Kirby extended his scoreless streak to 14 innings.
“You kind of know from the beginning,” he said. “You start to warm up and think, OK, it’s going to be a good day.
The AL West-leading Mariners have won three straight and nine of 11, and have won four consecutive series.
Seattle starting pitchers have allowed two or fewer earned runs in 15 consecutive games, a franchise record.
Arizona starter Slade Cecconi (1-1) paced Kirby early, striking out seven and allowing one hit in the first four innings. He gave up a run in the fifth on Luke Raley’s RBI single.
Cecconi struck out eight, allowing three hits in six innings.
Reliever Bryce Jarvis walked Jorge Polanco in the seventh before France hit him with a 410-foot shot to right center.
“Our pitching staff is elite, one of the best in the game,” França said. “Honestly, some nights, all it takes is one run.”
McCarthy had an RBI triple in the eighth for the Diamondbacks, who have lost four of five.
“It’s very frustrating,” Arizona coach Torey Lovullo said. “We knew very well that it would be difficult when we came here. This is a quality pitching staff and we just need to get better. We have to find a way to do this, this is not going to fix itself.”
Andrés Muñoz pitched the ninth for his fourth save.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: RHP Zac Gallen (right hamstring tightness) felt better Saturday after leaving in the top of the sixth inning on Friday. Gallen is expected to throw a bullpen on Monday and make his next scheduled start. … RHP Paul Sewald (oblique) will have his rehab delayed due to soreness but is still “very close” to a return, Lovullo said.
Mariners: RHP Matt Brash (elbow) has been shut down indefinitely. Brash played on Friday and didn’t feel well afterwards. His scheduled rehab appearance Saturday at Triple-A Tacoma was canceled. … RHP Bryan Woo (elbow) allowed two hits and struck out six batters in 3 1/3 innings in his second rehab start in Tacoma.
NEXT
Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert (2-0, 1.87 ERA) will pitch Sunday against Diamondbacks right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (1-1, 4.97).
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