Minnesota Twins at Seattle Mariners

George Kirby went through one hug after another in the home dugout at T-Mobile Park on Sunday. But no, this was not a hug-watch situation leading into Monday’s 3 p.m. PT Trade Deadline. These were embraces of joy -- and probably of exhale -- as Kirby had just turned in his best start of the season. And it came in the aftermath of the club trading Luis Castillo to the White Sox while his own name has surfaced more prominently ahead of a Deadline that is less than 24 hours away. "With everything going on, just trying to go out there and do my best,” Kirby said. “So it was a little bit of motivation, I guess. But yeah, I love this place. I want to stay here. I want to show them that I'm worthy of it." Kirby carved his way through seven scoreless innings, but calamity ensued after he departed before the Mariners were able to rally in a 7-6 walk-off win over the Twins. Eduard Bazardo and José A. Ferrer each surrendered a big homer in the eighth inning that trimmed Seattle’s 6-0 lead to 6-5. Then, Andrés Muñoz gave up another shot to his first batter in the ninth that tied the game, one day after he recorded four outs for the first time this year. Colt Emerson then came through in the bottom of the ninth with his first career walk-off hit, yanking a 104.8 mph single past the first baseman while Minnesota played with five infielders, with runners on second and third base and one out.