George Kirby Starts for Seattle Mariners in Game 2
The seattle mariners set George Kirby to start the second game in Seattle, with Baltimore coming off a 3-1 loss and a three-game slide. Kirby entered with a 4.07 ERA in 14 starts, and the Orioles answered with Kyle Bradish after dropping to 34-40 overall and 12-21 on the road.
Kirby and Bradish set the tone
Kirkby faced Baltimore the previous Wednesday and worked six innings, allowing three runs and six hits while striking out 10. Bradish took the mound after a rough stretch of his own, carrying a 4.30 ERA and a 1.568 WHIP in 14 starts.
Bradish had allowed 10 runs and 16 hits in two starts this month across eight innings. He also walked six batters and struck out eight in those two June outings, and his last start against Seattle came with a career-high three home runs allowed.
Orioles lineup around Basallo
Baltimore’s order had Blaze Alexander at third base, Leody Taveras in center field, Tyler O'Neill in right field and Samuel Basallo as the designated hitter. Basallo drove in his 30th run the previous night, and his 30 RBIs ranked ninth among qualified major league rookies.
The Orioles had scored in each of their first 74 games, the third-longest season-opening streak in franchise history, but the lineup still opened with pressure from the standings. They were 1 1/2 games behind the third-place Blue Jays, 11 1/2 games out of first place and 2 1/2 games back in the Wild Card race.
Seattle order and Thursday
Seattle answered with J.P. Crawford leading off at third base, Cal Raleigh at catcher, Julio Rodríguez in center field, Dominic Canzone at designated hitter, Cole Young at second base, Victor Robles in right field, Colt Emerson at shortstop, Connor Joe in left field and Miles Mastrobuoni at first base. Young had another lineup spot in the middle of the card after homering off Bradish in the previous matchup.
The pitching setup carried into Thursday afternoon, when Shane Baz was set to oppose Bryan Woo. For Baltimore, the immediate task was more direct: stop the losing streak, protect the road record and leave Seattle with a split in hand.
