The Cleveland Guardians fell on the road to the Seattle Mariners on Monday night by a final of 5-4 to begin the three-game series. The Guardians have now lost back-to-back games, with both games decided by one run.
For Cleveland (3-2), the Guardians got on the board in the 3rd inning when outfielder Steven Kwan grounded out into a fielder’s choice to score a run and second baseman Andres Gimenez hit a sacrifice fly to score a run a short time later, making the score 4-2 in favor of Seattle. Later in the 6th inning, outfielder Tyler Freeman hit a solo home run to cut the Mariners lead to 5-3. In the 8th inning, first baseman Josh Naylor also hit a solo home run to make it a one-run game at 5-4 in favor of Seattle, but the Guardians comeback came up short.
Starting pitcher Triston McKenzie suffered the loss in his first start of the season for going 3.1 innings, striking out two batters, and allowing four hits and two walks for five total runs with four being earned.
For Seattle (3-2), the Mariners got on the board in the 2nd inning when first baseman Ty France hit an RBI single to give Seattle a 1-0 lead. That same inning, outfielder Dominic Canzone, a Cleveland native, hit a three-run home run to extend the Mariners lead to 4-0 through two innings. The only other run after Seattle came in the 4th inning, when third baseman Luis Urias was walked by McKenzie with the bases loaded to extend the Mariners lead to 5-2.
Starting pitcher Emerson Hancock got the win in his first start of the season for going 5.1 innings, striking out a batter, and allowing four hits and a walk for three earned runs. Relief pitcher Ryne Stanek got his first save of the season for going the entire 9th inning, allowing no hits or walks, and striking out a batter.
The Guardians will continue their road series against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday, April 2nd, at 9:40 p.m.