SEATTLE — George Kirby put together one of his best starts of the season Tuesday night, but appeared to draw the ire of one young fan at T-Mobile Park during the Mariners' win over the Houston Astros.
Kirby was struck by a baseball during a break in the action Tuesday night, one which looked to be thrown from the stands.
“It surprised the hell out of me,” Kirby said after the game (h/t Seattle Times). “I thought it was the umpire because I had my hands up and asked for the ball. I thought he threw it. I mean, it was an impressive throw. I’ll give him that.”
The fan appeared to be a teenager who was wearing a Mariners jersey. Video being shared around social media and featured on the national broadcast showed the fan appearing to be escorted out of the game by stadium staff.
Mariners manager Scott Servais told reporters after the game that the young fan caught an Astros foul ball and thought he should throw it back onto the field. Fans of the home team at certain ballparks around the country traditionally will throw back home runs hit by the opposing team occasionally, although the baseballs almost never hit one of the players on the field.
Kirby nonetheless didn't let the strange incident affect him, as he tossed six scoreless innings in one of the most important games of the season as the Mariners cling to playoff aspirations.
Seattle could move ahead of the Astros with a win over Houston on Wednesday night at T-Mobile Park. The Mariners trail the Astros by a half-game in the AL Wild Card race, and the Texas Rangers by 3 games in the AL West. Seattle's final four games of the season will all be at home against the Rangers.