But there was less to celebrate as a cascade of relievers shut down the Mariners\u2019 lineup over the next seven innings. They really only threatened once. In the sixth, Arozarena leadoff with a walk. Raleigh followed with a single to move him to third. And Julio came through with another single for his second RBI of the night<\/a> to tie the game at 2-2.<\/p>\n The Tigers switched pitchers with two on and nobody out. Josh Naylor grounded into a double play, and Jorge Polanco lined out. The threat was over, and so were the Mariners. They managed only two base runners the rest of the way. Cal singled with two outs in the eighth, before Julio struck out to end the inning. Julio singled with two outs in the 11th, before Naylor grounded out to end the game.<\/p>\n To their credit, the Mariners hit the ball hard and a few fly balls nearly snuck over the fence or dropped in the gaps. They went just 3-for-13 on balls hit harder than 95 mph. T-Mobile Park is a notoriously tough environment, especially in the fall when cold temperatures and a specific tailwind conspire against offense. But whatever the reason was on Saturday, it ultimately wasn\u2019t enough.<\/p>\n George Kirby got the start for the Mariners. He was both untouchable and frequently in trouble. He struck out the side in the top of the first. He let two reach in the second before working out of it<\/a> with a pair of strikeouts. He gave up a leadoff double in the third, then escaped again. He pitched a clean fourth with two more strikeouts.<\/p>\n He finished the day with eight strikeouts and 16 whiffs in five innings<\/a>. He pounded the top rail with fastballs, expanding the zone higher and higher, and compelling the Tigers to swing at their eyes (and convincing the ump to give him a few high strikes as well).<\/p>\n But the Tigers eventually caught on. Kerry Carpenter stepped to the plate in the fifth inning with one on and two outs. Kirby got ahead and threw a fastball well above the zone. Carpenter torched it 112.5 mph and 409 feet<\/a> to right-center field. The Tigers took a 2-1 lead. It was Carpenter\u2019s fifth hit off Kirby in his career \u2014 and his fifth homer.<\/p>\n Dan Wilson chose to stick with Kirby against Carpenter despite having preeminent lefty Gabe Speier ready in the pen.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a tough one,\u201d Wilson said of the decision. \u201cYou do the best you can and try to take the information that you have and what you\u2019re seeing. And we thought George continued to throw the ball pretty well there and still had pretty good stuff and a lot left in the tank, and he had been in a couple of tough spots earlier but really pitched out of it well.\u201d<\/p>\n Hinch told reporters he planned to pinch hit with Jahmai Jones had Wilson gone to Speier. Jones posted a 167 wRC+ against lefties this year; Carpenter posted a 122 wRC+ against righties.<\/p>\n Kirby said his approach to Carpenter was the right one.<\/p>\n \u201cThe heaters up were working all day, and he finally got to one. So, tip your cap. I executed it the way I wanted to. I\u2019m not going to go back and forth in my head about whether it was the right pitch or not. I threw it, I was convicted in it, and he hit a homer.\u201d<\/p>\n The Mariners\u2019 bullpen after Kirby was exceptional. They didn\u2019t allow a hit over the next five innings, with stray walks in the sixth and eighth innings the only base runners allowed. Andr\u00e9s Mu\u00f1oz was especially dominant, picking up two strikeouts in two perfect innings in the ninth and 10th.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/e7249d55-c96d-448d-8a4b-305a24a7b763.jpg\"\/)
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