GEORGE KIRBY

The Seattle Mariners believe snapping their 21-year playoff drought is only the beginning.

Padres strike with 5-run rally, complete stunning upset of DodgersThe San Diego Padres have knocked out the Los Angeles Dodgers. 5 seed Padres ended the season of the 111-win, top-seeded Dodgers and advanced to an all-wild card NLCS with the Phillies. The Astros closed it out to win Game 3, 1-0. #postseason pic.twitter.com/4EkefQ91U3 — MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2022The string of zeros exceeded the MLB record for the deepest a postseason game had gone scoreless — beating the Guardians-Rays wild-card series game from last weekend. It also set a new record for combined strikeouts in a postseason game.

After advancing directly to their ALDS and NLDS slots via byes, the Astros, Yankees, Dodgers and Braves are taking on challengers. Guardians stage rally in 9th inning to beat YankeesIt looked like a classic Yankees win ... right up until it turned into a classic Guardians win. #postseason pic.twitter.com/4EkefQ91U3 — MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2022The string of zeros exceeded the MLB record for the deepest a postseason game had gone scoreless — beating the Guardians-Rays wild-card series game from last weekend. It also set a new record for combined strikeouts in a postseason game. After a fine start from ace Aaron Nola in Game 3, the Phillies turned to a bullpen-centric approach in Game 4.

Jeremy Peña homered in the 18th inning, and the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 1-0 to advance to the AL Championship Series for the sixth straight year.

There was bunting draped off the railings in October and logos painted on the grass of T-Mobile Park that were absent for the past two decades when the Seattle Mariners were stuck in baseball purgatory and left as a spectator every postseason.

Yordan Alvarez and his mighty bat did it yet again, launching a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning off Seattle ace Luis Castillo that lifted the Houston Astros over the Mariners 4-2 for a 2-0 lead in the AL Division Series.

Astros reliever Phil Maton says he broke his right pinkie when he punched a locker in frustration after Houston’s regular-season finale and will miss the postseason.

Dansby Swanson hit one of Atlanta’s four home runs and the World Series champion Braves grabbed sole possession of first place for the first time all season with a 6-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.

With an additional wild card in each league, we could have expected the following this year:1. Teams at the top of the standings would be even more secure in their postseason chances down the stretch. Perhaps that's because adding a third wild card in each league hasn't really lowered the bar for making the postseason. The Toronto Blue Jays, currently on pace for 87 wins, hold the third wild card in the American League at the moment. TRIVIA TIMEIf there had been a third wild card in each league last year, which teams would have qualified?

So far, the impact of baseball's expanded postseason is marginal.

Kirby gave up five hits and one run before throwing his first ball to Joey Meneses in the third. Kirby topped the mark of 21 consecutive strikes to open by Joe Musgrove for Pittsburgh against St. Louis in 2018. In his last two outings, the 38-year-old has given up one earned run and three hits in 9 1/3 innings. It's the longest drought in major league history. UP NEXTNationals: Top pitching prospect RHP Cade Cavalli will make his major league debut at home vs. Cincinnati on Friday.

Seattle right-hander George Kirby set a major league record by throwing 24 straight strikes to start the game and fellow Mariners rookie Julio Rodriguez reached a new level, but Ildemaro Vargas hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning that lifted the Washington Nationals to a 3-1 win.

Cal Raleigh homered twice, Eugenio Suárez and Jesse Winker each hit a two-run shot, and the Seattle Mariners overcame Shohei Ohtani’s four-hit performance to complete a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with an 11-7 victory.

Carlos Santana snapped an 0-for-17 slump with a go-ahead two-run homer during Seattle’s three-run seventh inning, and the Mariners rallied to beat the slumping New York Yankees 4-3.

Ty France hit a two-run homer in the third inning, George Kirby pitched six solid innings and the Seattle Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels 2-1 to open a doubleheader.

Luis Castillo traded to SeattleAfter missing all of April (which is typically his worst month of the season), Castillo was good in May (3.38 ERA), slightly better in June (3.26 ERA) and terrific in July (1.93 ERA). Castillo’s splits have fantasy managers dreaming of how well he could fare now that he pitches for a team with an offense-suppressing venue. Castillo should be valued as a top-20 starter for the remainder of the season. The biggest fantasy loser of the Castillo trade is likely rookie righty, George Kirby. His IL stay is expected to be a short one, which is welcome news for fantasy managers and Mariners fans.

Abraham Toro pinch-hit for injured All-Star Julio Rodriguez and delivered a two-run single with two outs in the ninth inning as the Seattle Mariners rallied past the AL-West leading Houston Astros 5-4.

Mariners Red Sox Baseball Boston Red Sox's Trevor Story tosses his bat while watching his three-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the eighth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (Charles Krupa)BOSTON — (AP) — Trevor Story had three homers, four hits and seven RBIs to help the Boston Red Sox rally from a four-run deficit to beat the Seattle Mariners 12-6 Thursday night. The Red Sox got four scoreless innings of relief from Tanner Houck (3-3) after Seattle roughed up starter Rich Hill over the first two innings for a 4-0 lead. Red Sox: LHP Darwinzon Hernandez had surgery Thursday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. Red Sox: RHP Michael Wacha is expected to be reinstated from the injured list and make his first start since May 3.

Trevor Story had three homers, four hits and seven RBIs to help the Boston Red Sox rally from a four-run deficit to beat the Seattle Mariners 12-6.

Astros Nationals Baseball Houston Astros' Jose Altuve celebrates after his home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, May 13, 2022, in Washington. Altuve homered on the first pitch of the game Friday night as the Astros won their 11th in a row, beating Washington 6-1. Houston, which began play in 1962 as a National League expansion team called the Colt .45s, has won 12 straight three times — in 1999, 2004 and 2018. Acting manager Ryan Christenson said he could get some occasional starts at second base and designated hitter. AILING ACEDodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw is out with inflammation in a pelvic joint, the seventh straight season he's gone on the injured list.

Jose Altuve and the Houston Astros try for their 12th straight win Saturday, which would tie the team record.

The Padres plan to use the 39-year-old Canó as a left-handed bat off the bench. “I know I can still play this game and just go out on top.”The Mets owe Canó nearly $45 million remaining on his original contract signed with Seattle. Canó hit .195 with one home run and three RBIs in 43 plate appearances for the NL East-leading Mets. AILING ACEDodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw is out with inflammation in a pelvic joint, the seventh straight season he's gone on the injured list. Merrifield has played six positions during the stretch: first base, second base, left field, center field, right field and DH.

Robinson Canó has found another job in the majors, signing with San Diego less than a week after being released by the Mets.

Robinson Canó has found another job in the majors, signing with San Diego less than a week after being released by the Mets. The Padres plan to use the 39-year-old Canó as a left-handed bat off the bench. Acting manager Ryan Christenson said he could get some occasional starts at second base and designated hitter.

Mets Phillies Baseball A tarp is seen covering the field as a storm postpones a baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets, Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Philadelphia. It will also appear in stadiums and feature players such as Pete Alonso, Tim Anderson, Carlos Correa, Carlos Rodón and Mike Trout with their mothers. MAKING THEM UPAfter rain wreaked havoc with the baseball schedule this weekend, there are 18 games on tap, including three doubleheaders. Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies host the New York Mets, Cedric Mullins and the Baltimore Orioles host the Kansas City Royals, and Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees host the Texas Rangers in the three twinbills. Baker won his 2,004th game as a manager, passing Bruce Bochy for 11th on the career list.

Susan G.

Mets Phillies Baseball A tarp is seen covering the field as a storm postpones a baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets, Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Philadelphia. It will also appear in stadiums and feature players such as Pete Alonso, Tim Anderson, Carlos Correa, Carlos Rodón and Mike Trout with their mothers. MAKING THEM UPAfter rain wreaked havoc with the baseball schedule this weekend, there are 18 games on tap, including three doubleheaders. Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies host the New York Mets, Cedric Mullins and the Baltimore Orioles host the Kansas City Royals, and Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees host the Texas Rangers in the three twinbills. Baker won his 2,004th game as a manager, passing Bruce Bochy for 11th on the career list.

With a combined age of 194, George Kirby and Doreen Luckie are certainly the oldest newlyweds in Britain. They became an item 27 years ago, but George finally decided it was time to take things further. Charlie D'Agata reports.

The driver of an armored van pulled up to Dallas' police headquarters before spraying the building with bullets; With a combined age of 194, George Kirby and Doreen Luckie are certainly the oldest newlyweds in Britain.