Clarke Schmidt is getting better and better with each start — and in this game pitched his best start of the season: a 3-hit shutout into the 6th with 7 K’s.
But his effort was matched by George Kirby, a member of the terrific young Seattle Mariner starting staff — who pitched a 3-hit shutout through 7 innings, also striking out 7.
NY’s only legitimate chance to score all evening was in the 10th when they moved the inherited runner to 3rd with nobody out, but couldn’t score him. Seattle did score their inherited runner in the bottom of the 10th for the old ballgame.
On a Wednesday night in Seattle.
“Early in the season when my back was to the wall, I never really doubted that success was coming right around the corner,” added Schmidt. “I always had that confidence in myself and my abilities to get guys out.”
NY won the series 2 games to 1, but falls to 34-24, 6 behind Tampa and 2 behind Baltimore. Seattle improves to 29-27, 6.5 behind 1st place Texas in their division.
1. Schmidt Terrific
Schmidt was never in trouble. He allowed a 2-out single in the bottom of the 6th to Julio Rodriguez and was relieved by Wandy Peralta at 84 pitches.
“Just continuing to be on the attack mentality wise, and being aggressive in the zone,” said Schmidt afterwards about why he was successful on the evening. “I know I have good stuff and am trying not to nibble too much in the zone and go right at them.”
Clarke Schmidt, Filthy 84mph Breaking Ball. 😷 pic.twitter.com/VtHSe5f1tr
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 1, 2023
“Number one thing is execution; we’re getting really good locations,” explained Schmidt when asked what the recent difference has been. “Also early in the season adding the cutter we didn’t have too good of a feel on how to incorporate it. Now I feel we’re starting to dial in the pitch package a little more, and learning how to pitch with the cutter and find new ways to get lefties out.”
He lowered his ERA to 5.01 from 5.58 coming in. He is now 2-5 5.01 — but pitching a Lot better than that lately.
2. Kirby the “King of Command”
George Kirby is a 6’4 righthander from Rye, New York who is a top young starter for the Mariners known as “The King of Command”. He has a 97-MPH four-seam fastball, a 96-MPH sinker, an 86-MPH slider, and an 82-MPH curveball he throws with confidence.
He shut the Yanks down on 3 hits through 7 innings.
George Kirby's Absurd Command.🎯 pic.twitter.com/e6mSIQSYAw
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 1, 2023
3. Peralta & Holmes Terrific
Peralta pitched a shutout 7th and got the first 2 outs of the 8th before yielding to Clay Holmes, who got the final out of the 8th and pitched a 1-2-3 ninth.
4. Yanks Can’t Score in 10th
Things were looking good for the Yanks in the top of the 9th when DJ LeMahieu led off with a grounder to shortstop J.P Crawford that he muffed for an error — which moved their inherited runner to 3rd, and put DJ on 1st with nobody out.
- But Seattle reliever Justin Topa got Isiah Kiner-Falefa to foul out to 3rd for the 1st out.
- Lefty swinging Jake Bauers walked to load the bases with 1 out.
- But Anthony Volpe hit a 96-MPH sinker for a grounder to 3rd — and the runner (Oswaldo Cabrera) was forced at home.
- Franchy Cordero worked the count to 3-2 — the Yanks were a ball away from a go-ahead run. But Cordero struck out swinging on a 94-MPH sinker, to end the inning.
5. Seattle Walks It Off
Seattle took no time winning in the bottom of the 10th, as catcher Cal Raleigh leading off, hit a 2-2 changeup from Ron Marinaccio for a single to right, scoring the inherited runner for the old ballgame.
The Boxscore
https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401471854
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