Seattle’s Nelson Cruz celebrates with teammate Kyle Seager after a two-run homer in the first inning of Thursday’s game at Safeco Field. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Seattle’s Nelson Cruz celebrates with teammate Kyle Seager after a two-run homer in the first inning of Thursday’s game at Safeco Field. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Hernandez, Cruz lead Mariners over Indians in season opener

Before the largest regular season crowd in Safeco history, Felix tossed 5⅓ scoreless innings.

SEATTLE — The King reclaimed his crown Thursday night.

Felix Hernandez flashed back to his imperious self, and the Seattle Mariners opened their 2018 season on a winning note, defeating the Cleveland Indians 2-1 at Safeco Field.

Before a sellout crowd of 47,149 — the largest regular season crowd in Safeco history — Hernandez tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings to lead the Mariners to victory. Nelson Cruz’s first-inning two-run home run provided all the offense Seattle needed.

Hernandez is coming off the most difficult season of his major-league career. Injuries limited him to 16 starts in 2017, and three straight seasons of declining effectiveness had observers speculating whether Hernandez, whose 32nd birthday is right around the corner, was falling victim to Father Time.

But Hernandez showed glimpses of his past Thursday, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out four. He was removed after 83 pitches, 49 of which were strikes, because of an abbreviated spring training that was the result of taking a line drive off his pitching elbow. His fastball sat at 91 mph and he recorded strikeouts with his fastball, curve and changeup.

Seattle’s Felix Hernandez throws a pitch on Thursday at Safeco Field. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Seattle’s Felix Hernandez throws a pitch on Thursday at Safeco Field. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Hernandez held his own against Cleveland starter Corey Kluber. The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner pitched an eight-inning complete game, allowing six hits and a walk while striking out eight in the loss.

Ichiro Suzuki, returning to the Mariners after making 10 All-Star games during his stint in Seattle from 2001-12, started in left field and finished 0-for-2 before being removed in the field to start the top of the eighth.

Cleveland’s Bradley Zimmer can’t bring back a two-run homer by Seattle’s Nelson Cruz in the first inning of Thursday’s game at Safeco Field. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Cleveland’s Bradley Zimmer can’t bring back a two-run homer by Seattle’s Nelson Cruz in the first inning of Thursday’s game at Safeco Field. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

The Mariners had a dream start to the game. It began with Hernandez tossing a 1-2-3 top of the first, getting weak contact on all three batters. Then in the bottom of the inning Cruz, first-pitch swinging, took Kluber out to dead center for a two-run homer, staking Seattle to an early 2-0 lead.

Cleveland finally got on the scoreboard against Seattle’s bullpen in the top of the seventh. With a runner on second and two out, Yan Gomes hit a pop-up into left center that dropped just between three defenders as the Indians cut the deficit to 2-1.

Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki hits a foul ball on Thursday at Safeco Field. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki hits a foul ball on Thursday at Safeco Field. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Things got hairy for Seattle in the top of the ninth as closer Edwin Diaz hit consecutive batters with one out, with pinch runner Rajai Davis stealing third to bring the tying run 90 feet away. But Diaz fanned Gomes and Tyler Naquin to end it and pick up the save.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Silvertips forward Shea Busch participates in the Florida Panthers development camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on July 1, 2025. Florida selected Busch in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft on June 28. (Photo courtesy Shea Busch)
Shea Busch experiences whirlwind NHL Draft week

The Florida Panthers selected the Silvertips forward in the fourth round on June 28.

Late Mystics surge dooms Storm as stars struggle

Seattle dropped to 13-9 after shooting 36.2% from the field.

Jorge Polanco (7), right, of the Seattle Mariners celebrates his ninth inning home run with J.P. Crawford (3) while playing the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Detroit. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Mariners sweep Tigers on way to All-Star break

The Detroit Tigers still have the best record in baseball,… Continue reading

Mariners select LSU pitcher with No. 3 pick in MLB draft

College baseball’s best pitcher is coming to the Emerald City. The Seattle… Continue reading

Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates winning championship point against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the Gentlemen's Singles Final on day 14 of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in London. (Julian Finney / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Sinner conquers Alcaraz for his first Wimbledon title

The vision of Jannik Sinner covered in sweat and… Continue reading

Rome Odunze scans the field in a scrimmage at his youth football camp at Archbishop Murphy High School on July 10, 2025. The former University of Washington star is entering his second NFL season with the Chicago Bears. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Odunze ‘gives back’ in Everett youth football camp

The former University of Washington star hosts a single-day camp at Archbishop Murphy on Thursday.

The New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, top right, celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off sacrifice fly ball during the 10th inning against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, July 10, 2025, in New York. (Justin Casterline / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Yankees walk off Mariners on Judge’s sac fly for series sweep

Seattle blows 5-0 lead after Bryan Woo takes no-hitter into eighth inning.

Raleigh says Munoz tipped pitches during Yankees’ comeback

The Yankees had a bead on Seattle Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz. That’s… Continue reading

Midfielder Christian Soto dribbles up field during Snohomish United's 5-1 win against the Tacoma Stars at Stockers Fields on July 9, 2025 (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Snohomish United keeps playoff hopes alive in home finale

With 5-1 win against Tacoma, the USL2 club’s focus on local talent keys success in inaugural season.

Silvertips forward Carter Bear fields questions after the Detroit Red Wings selected him 13th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles on June 27, 2025. (Photo courtesy Natalie Shaver / CHL)
Two weeks after Draft, Silvertips’ Bear still can’t believe it

The Red Wings’ first-rounder reflects on draft night and his experience at Detroit’s development camp.

AquaSox down Devils for consecutive wins

The AquaSox were on a 2-10 stretch coming into the series.

Cam Schlittler’s strong debut freezes Mariners

The Mariners fell to the Yankees, 9-6, on Wednesday night.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.