Mariners All-Stars have mixed game as only two of three get game action
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – Amongst the three All-Stars representing the Seattle Mariners amongst the American League, only two of them saw any game action in the 2023 MLB All-Star Game. Right-handed pitcher George Kirby got into the ballgame to throw an inning, while centerfielder Julio Rodriguez took over centerfield in his home ballpark in the later innings and closed out the game there in his “No Fly Zone.” It was a bit interesting to not see Mariners ace Luis Castillo not get the ball to pitch in this game inside of his home ballpark, but American League manager Dusty Baker gave a pretty solid answer as to why that was the case. All in all, these are memories that the Mariners players will remember forever, and the fans will appreciate as well before we get into the second half of the season.
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby during his first career All-Star appearance (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)
Kirby allows first run to National League
Right-hander and second year pitcher George Kirby came in to pitch for the American League to begin the fourth inning. Allowing a double to Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star J.D. Martinez in the first plate appearance he saw, Kirby was responsible for the first run for the National League as current MLB batting average leader and Miami Marlins star Luis Arraez roped a singled past Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr, scoring Martinez from second. Kirby has Texas Rangers right fielder Adolis Garcia to thank for his second out of the inning after getting St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado to ground out after Martinez’s double. Garcia had to battle the sun and leap for another fly ball against the wall, tripping a bit but getting the out regardless. To represent the third out of the inning, Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim threw out Arraez as he attempted to steal second as Kirby had Seattle native and Arizona Diamondbacks star Corbin Carroll in a 1-1 count.
“I don’t know why I threw a curveball there. It was stupid, should’ve thrown a heater. ”
Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais and starting pitcher George Kirby in the dugout following Kirby’s outing (Photo by Mathew Bermudez)
It isn’t quite the outing that Kirby was hoping to have, allowing two hits and the first earned run that the National League pushed across their first run of the ballgame. He wasn’t able to collect a strikeout during his outing, but also ensured not to walk anybody. The two hits were all he allowed, and overall, it wasn’t the worst outing Kirby could’ve had. Some memories made for the second-year pitcher, who surely will look forward to making his way back to an All-Star game and “redeeming himself” when he returns. In the meantime, Seattle fans could look at Kirby to use this as motivation for the second half of the season.
“I did my starter routine. I felt like I threw a little too much, actually. But I felt really good, super comfortable. And like I said, I was just really excited and glad I was here in Seattle.”
“Learned a lot of different things today, pick people’s brains, just being around all those guys I grew up watching was pretty, pretty cool. Still taking it all in, and I’m just glad I did my first time in front of Seattle fans.”
“A lot. I couldn’t ask for a better situation. I have family and friends here, it was really cool, really special moment. ”
Seattle Mariners centerfielder Julio Rodriguez took over in centerfield and got two plate appearances in his second career All-Star game (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)
Julio protects the “No Fly Zone”
The bright smile of Mariners centerfielder Julio Rodriguez took the field to begin the sixth inning, taking over his spot in the “No Fly Zone” of T-Mobile Park where he normally resides for games during the regular season. Julio was able to play three innings in centerfield for the American League and get two plate appearances during his time in his second consecutive All-Star game to begin his young career. While it wasn’t necessarily a massive performance for Rodriguez like his first-round performance in yesterday’s Home Run Derby, Julio still was able to leave his mark on the ballgame that the whole nation was tuned into and help his team towards a potential win in the dying moments of the game. While Rodriguez didn’t slam a game winning homer, he still kept the line moving and did his part towards what could’ve been the American League’s tenth victory in a row.
“Oh my god that was unbelievable. That was an unbelievable feeling, I will say we have had the playoff game and all that but there was just something different of having like an event-based crowd kind of to say it like that. And it was unbelievable to have all the stars here, the energy the fans brought, like it was unbelievable what they did and Seattle definitely showed up. ”
Rodriguez came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, striking out on five pitches against San Francisco Giants reliever Camilo Doval. Doval was able to lock down the remainder of the American League lineup and earned the win in this game for the National League, so there isn’t necessarily any shame in that. Julio got his second chance at making an impact in this All-Star game when he came to the plate with two outs and representing the winning run in the bottom of the ninth. After getting into a 1-2 count, Rodriguez worked his way to a seven pitch walk to get two runners aboard for Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez. While Ramirez struck out to end the game, Julio had done his part to avoid trying to swing for the fences on a full count and instead take the walk, which is the right decision.
“It definitely meant the world, just having the opportunity to kind of step up the plate again and with a chance to do something special. The crowd knew, everybody kind of felt in the building. It was pretty surreal, the energy that they were sending down.”
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo was present pregame but did not pitch in the All-Star game (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)
Luis left out
Mariners ace and right-handed pitcher Luis Castillo at one point ahead of this game seemed as though he’d be the pitcher starting this ballgame. On All-Star media day, which was held the morning of the Home Run Derby at T-Mobile Park, Dusty Baker (Manager of the American League and normally the Houston Astros) announced that New York Yankees starter Gerrit Cole would be the one that got the ball first for the American League. It was a surprising decision given that you’d figure a Seattle pitcher would begin the game for the Mariners and if it was going to be either of the two, it was going to be Castillo. But. Given the fact that the Mariners are set to begin a ten-game homestand on Friday and Castillo will likely get the ball that day to get things kicked off, I wouldn’t doubt that played a factor into things and Baker seemed to confirm at least some of that when asked about that decision.
“Well, I had his manager sitting right next to me, you know what I mean? He was kind of ‘in an emergency’ situation, you know, that’s the only reason. He pitched not long ago against us in our ballpark. You got to take care of other guys players. I was kind of shocked, but pleased the fact that Gerrit Cole wanted to pitch one inning, because he just pitched on Sunday, so no, it was about preservation of of another team’s player. ”
What’s next?
Following the conclusion of the 93rd MLB All-Star game, the Seattle Mariners and their three All-Stars get two days off before they jump back into regular season action. After those two days of “rest,” and I only add quotations because it isn’t going to be much of a break for the three All-Stars, the Mariners will begin a ten game homestand against the Detroit Tigers and they’ll do so in big fashion. That homestand begins on Friday, July 14th as the Mariners will don their City Connect jerseys as well as hosting post-All-Star week fireworks show to celebrate. First pitch for that game is at 7:10PM PST.
