Mariners' Kirby on game-tying HR: 'I wish I wasn't out there for the 7th'

Seattle Mariners right-hander George Kirby wasn't pleased that he remained in Friday's contest to allow a game-tying home run in the seventh inning of an eventual loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Kirby served the blast to René Pinto on the 102nd - and final - pitch of his outing:

"I didn't execute. He hit a good pitch. I wish I wasn't out there for the seventh to be honest," Kirby said postgame following the 6-4 defeat, according to Jake García of KING 5 News.

The All-Star added: "I was at 90 pitches, and I didn't think I needed to go anymore, but it is what it is. ... There will be a conversation soon."

Kirby was actually at 93 pitches through six innings and was slated to face the bottom of the Rays' lineup, which included Taylor Walls, Jose Siri, and Pinto.

"He had done a really good job handling those guys at that point," Mariners manager Scott Servais said, according to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. "We were thin in the bullpen tonight, so you're trying to stretch a little bit. But he had plenty in the tank."

Kirby said Saturday that he apologized to Servais for his comments and that the two had productive conversations, according to Adam Jude of the Seattle Times.

The 25-year-old has logged 165 2/3 innings (27 starts) over his second season in the majors, which is already 35 2/3 innings above the total he recorded in 2022.

Kirby has struggled over his last four starts. He's allowed 14 earned runs over 21 innings dating back to Aug. 17.