HOUSTON – The last time George Kirby faced the Houston Astros, he walked off the mound after tossing seven brilliant innings, holding the potent Astros lineup scoreless and leaving them shaking their head in frustration. He was rewarded with a raucous standing ovation from more than 47,000 people at T-Mobile Park.

SEATTLE – On Thursday morning, Felix Hernandez climbed the labyrinthic inner stairwells and then one last steep ladder to get to the upper berth of the Space Needle. He emerged, a bit ashen, onto the platform. A spectacular panoramic view of the city awaited him, but it turns out King Felix is not a big fan of heights.

SAN FRANCISCO – It all felt so familiar because, well, it has been common theme this season: Pitching good enough to win, offensive production just bad enough to make fans want to break something in anger.

SEATTLE – No, Julio Rodriguez is not having the dominant, next-level season that was envisioned for him when he entered 2023 as MLB’s anointed “new face of the game.”

SEATTLE – So, it obviously can’t be denied that the Major League Baseball rule stating every team must have at least one representative was the main reason the name Mariners was included on the list of All-Stars in the early years of the franchise.

SAN FRANCISCO — Holding a celebration of what’s good in baseball at T-Mobile Park and not having two of the Seattle Mariners’ top young stars participating? That just can’t happen.

SAN FRANCISCO – Maybe it was the removal of the small caterpillar on his upper lip that he referred to as a “mustache.”

SAN FRANCISCO – The Mariners introduced Camilo Doval to a little something fans have dubbed “Chaos Ball.”

SAN FRANCISCO — Rather than running the risk of making the situation worse for Bryce Miller and also putting their bullpen in distress with another injury-shortened start, the Mariners have opted to place the young right-hander on the 15-day injured list due to a blister on the middle finger of his right hand.

SEATTLE – Mariners legend Ken Griffey Jr. is regarded as the man who, perhaps more than anyone, helped make the Home Run Derby a marquee event. He not only holds the record for the most appearances (8) and the most wins (3), but also provided the folklore moment that elevated The Derby into the realm of must-see spectacle when he clanked one off the warehouse beyond right field at Camden Yards in 1993.

SAN FRANCISCO — The Mariners’ first trade of what could be multiple in the month of July doesn’t necessarily signal a direction they might be headed as either buyers or sellers.