By
Seattle Times staff reporter
TORONTO — With a second chance at their first World Series, the Mariners will turn to George Kirby for the first Game 7 in franchise history Monday night.
After a 6-2 loss to the Blue Jays in Game 6 Sunday night, Mariners manager Dan Wilson announced Kirby as the starter for Game 7 of the American League Championship Series at the Rogers Centre (5 p.m. PT, FOX).
Much like the Mariners’ 15-inning victory over Detroit in their elimination Game 5 of the AL Division Series, Wilson said he expects “all hands on deck” out of the bullpen for Game 7 Monday.
Starters Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo said late Sunday that they are good to go out of the bullpen for Game 7. Luis Castillo should be, too.
Toronto will counter with 30-year-old right-hander Shane Bieber in Game 7.
In Game 3 in Seattle, Bieber allowed two runs over six innings, with eight strikeouts in the Blue Jays’ 13-4 victory.
Monday’s winner will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series starting Friday.
Game 7 will mark Kirby’s fifth career postseason start — and first on the road.
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He does, however, have high-pressure experience in a playoff game in Toronto. As a rookie, Kirby came out of the bullpen in the ninth inning for his first — and only — professional relief appearance to close out the Mariners’ stunning 10-9 comeback victory over the Blue Jays in the 2022 AL Wild Card Series.
The Mariners have never advanced this far in the ALCS, and they’ll count on Kirby to get them over the final hurdle in October.
“Super honored. Going to go out there and give it my best,” Kirby said Sunday night. “I love pitching under pressure and super glad I’m able to get Game 7.”
Kirby was the choice to start Game 3 of this ALCS in part for this exact scenario: The Mariners wanted him for Game 7, should it come down to that.
And here they are.
“He’s the guy that we want in that situation,” Wilson said late Sunday. “He’s thrown the ball well and it’s his spot.”
In that Game 3 back in Seattle, the Blue Jays roughed up Kirby to the tune of eight earned runs (including three homers) in four innings on Wednesday.
Those eight earned runs tied for the most ever allowed in MLB playoff history by a starting pitcher.
Kirby had been solid in his two outings in the ALDS against Detroit, throwing five innings in each start and allowing three total runs with a 14-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Adam Jude: ajude@seattletimes.com. Adam Jude is a Seattle Mariners beat writer at The Seattle Times. He previously covered UW Huskies football and the Seattle Seahawks for The Seattle Times.