George Kirby’s return to the mound ended in a loss and Julio Rodríguez was scratched from the lineup as the Mariners were thumped by the Astros.

Seattle’s George Kirby didn’t get the results he wanted in his season debut against the Houston Astros but was still encouraged in his return to the mound after a lengthy absence.

Seattle’s star-studded rotation lost George Kirby and Logan Gilbert to injury in the early stages of spring, but a major piece of the puzzle returns when the Mariners commence an all-important, four-game series Thursday with their archrivals.