SEATTLE (Interstat) — The Cleveland Guardians opened their 2026 season with a methodical 6-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night at T-Mobile Park, defying pregame projections and a boisterous crowd of 44,938 in the process.

National statistical models had heavily favored the Mariners, projecting a 54.7% probability of a Seattle win and a low-scoring affair. The Guardians, installed as +1.5 underdogs, shattered those expectations by pounding out 12 hits, including three home runs, to outlast Seattle in a game that lasted 2 hours and 40 minutes.

The tone was set immediately. After leadoff hitter Steven Kwan popped out, Cleveland’s Chase DeLauter launched the first pitch he saw from Seattle ace Logan Gilbert deep to right-center field for a solo home run, staking the Guardians to a 1-0 lead. Seattle answered in the bottom half when Brendan Donovan countered with a solo shot of his own, tying the game. The Mariners took a brief lead in the second when Dominic Canzone connected for the first of his two homers, a solo blast to right-center that made it 2-1.

Gilbert, who finished with a line of 5 1/3 innings pitched, five hits, three earned runs and seven strikeouts, largely held Cleveland in check until the fifth. Rhys Hoskins sparked the rally with a single, and Daniel Schneemann followed with a double. After an out, Brayan Rocchio delivered the key blow, a two-run double down the right field line that scored both runners and reclaimed the lead for Cleveland at 3-2.

Seattle again responded in the bottom of the fifth, as Luke Raley led off with a homer to right to knot the score at 3-3. The back-and-forth continued into the seventh. With reliever Gabe Speier on the mound for Seattle, Rocchio singled and, after two outs, DeLauter kept the inning alive with another single. José Ramírez then ripped a double to left field, clearing the bases and giving Cleveland a 5-3 advantage. The Mariners, however, refused to go quietly. Canzone led off the bottom of the seventh with his second homer of the night, a solo shot to center, pulling Seattle back within a run at 5-4.

Cleveland added a critical insurance run in the ninth when DeLauter victimized Seattle reliever Casey Legumina for his second homer of the game, a solo shot to right-center to make it 6-4. Mariners closer Cade Smith then worked a perfect bottom of the ninth, retiring Randy Arozarena on a flyout, striking out Luke Raley swinging, and getting a sharp lineout from the dangerous Canzone to shortstop to end the game and secure the save.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the top of the seventh inning. With the score tied 3-3 and Speier, the losing pitcher, on the mound, the Guardians manufactured a two-out rally that ultimately decided the contest. After Gabriel Arias struck out and Steven Kwan popped out, Brayan Rocchio’s single seemed harmless. Chase DeLauter’s subsequent single, however, moved Rocchio into scoring position and brought José Ramírez to the plate. Ramírez, a perennial All-Star, then delivered the decisive blow, lashing a double to left field that scored both runners. This two-run hit broke the tie for the final time, giving Cleveland a 5-3 lead and shifting the pressure entirely onto a Seattle offense that, aside from Canzone’s solo homer in the bottom of the frame, could not answer again. That clutch two-out hit by Ramírez proved to be the difference, turning a tied game into a lead the Guardians would not relinquish.

Connor Brogdon earned the win in relief for Cleveland, while Speier took the loss for Seattle. Smith’s save sealed the victory.

Offensively for Cleveland, DeLauter’s two-homer, three-RBI night led the way, supported by multi-hit games from Hoskins, Rocchio and Ramírez, whose two-RBI double was crucial. For Seattle, Canzone’s two-homer, two-RBI performance was the lone bright spot in a lineup that managed just six hits and saw key hitters like Julio Rodríguez, Josh Naylor and Cal Raleigh combine to go 0-for-11.

With the win, Cleveland begins the season 1-0, while Seattle starts 0-1. The two teams continue their four-game series Friday night at T-Mobile Park. Following this series, the Guardians travel to face the Los Angeles Dodgers for three games before their home opener against the Chicago Cubs on April 3. The Mariners will host the New York Yankees for three games after this series before embarking on a road trip to face the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers.