Cleveland Guardians’ Mike Zunino slides home to score on a two-run single by Steven Kwan as Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh waits for the throw during the fifth inning of a game Friday in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Cleveland Guardians’ Mike Zunino slides home to score on a two-run single by Steven Kwan as Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh waits for the throw during the fifth inning of a game Friday in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Kwan leads Guardians past sloppy Mariners

The Cleveland left fielder drives in five runs and Seattle allows five unearned runs in a 9-4 loss.

By Tim Booth / Associated Press

SEATTLE — Steven Kwan’s big night put him with select company in Cleveland’s record book.

Kwan became the second player in franchise history with five RBIs in either of the first two games of the season, and the Guardians took advantage of three errors by Seattle in a 9-4 win over the Mariners on Friday night.

Kwan had a two-run double and two-run single to go along with a sacrifice fly, and the Guardians rebounded with 13 hits after getting shut out by Seattle on opening day.

Larry Doby in 1953 was the only other player in Cleveland’s history to have five RBIs in one of the first two games.

Kwan said he was trying to set a tone right away going nine pitches on the first at-bat of the game. He struck out, but felt it showed Cleveland was going to have tough at-bats against Seattle starter Robbie Ray.

“I take that to heart. There’s only so much I can do in the beginning of the at-bat,” Kwan said. “But if I can kind of set the tone for everybody else and that’s really important.”

Kwan’s soft double in the fourth inning that barely landed fair ended the night for Seattle starter Robbie Ray and gave Cleveland a 5-3 lead. Ray (0-1) produced a dud of a debut to this season after he looked impressive in spring training, walking five and recording just 10 outs in his 91 pitches.

“I just hit it and was praying. I don’t think in that moment you’re really conceptualizing anything,” Kwan said. “You’re just reacting and just watch.”

Kwan followed an inning later with a two-out, two-run single on a 3-2 pitch from Trevor Gott.

Cleveland also capitalized on a combination of bad luck and bad defense by Seattle that led to five unearned runs.

The Guardians’ first two runs scored when Teoscar Hernández’s throw from right field clipped Mike Zunino as he returned to first base and created chaos. The ricochet sent the ball offline toward the Cleveland dugout and allowed Oscar Gonzalez to tag up and score from third. Ray was first to the loose ball, but his throw to the plate to get Gonzalez was wide of catcher Cal Raleigh and rolled to the Seattle dugout, allowing Andrés Giménez to score from second base.

“Our base running was excellent. We made them fight for everything,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. “Zunino got in the way of that throw and I know that’s not by design, but that really helped us. Our base running then took over from there and really helped.”

In the fifth inning, Kolten Wong dropped the feed from shortstop J.P. Crawford at second base on a potential inning-ending double play. Cleveland went on to score three unearned runs in the inning, including Kwan’s single and an RBI single from Amed Rosario.

“That was very uncharacteristic to how we usually play,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “Was really not our best night, the combination of the walks and miscues in the field, and a team that does a really good job of putting the ball in play.”

Reigning AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodríguez led off with a double, his first hit of the year. He added an RBI double in the fourth off Kwan’s glove in left field. Raleigh also had a two-run double, but Seattle was held scoreless by Cleveland’s bullpen.

Nick Sandlin (1-0), Eli Morgan, Enyel De Los Santos, Trevor Stephan and Emmanuel Clase combined for 5 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits with eight strikeouts.

UP NEXT

Guardians: RHP Aaron Civale was 5-6 with a 4.92 ERA in 20 starts last season for Cleveland. He has a 5.50 ERA in three career appearances against Seattle.

Mariners: RHP Logan Gilbert is 1-1 in three career starts against Cleveland. It will be his first home start since Sept. 30, 2022, when he allowed one run in eight innings the night Seattle clinched a playoff berth.

Talk to us

More in Sports

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Jordyn Brooks (56) and safety Jamal Adams (33) talk during NFL football practice, Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at the team's facilities in Renton, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
5 things to watch during Seahawks’ mandatory minicamp

The camp is only three days long, but some clarity could arise on a number of issues.

Empty seats are shown at Husky Stadium during an NCAA college football game between Washington and Oregon State, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Seattle. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fans were not permitted to attend the game. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
State football title games moving to Husky Stadium for ’23 season

The WIAA announced Tuesday a one-year agreement with the University of Washington to host the games for the upcoming season.

Giants pitcher Ryan Walker, an Arlington High School graduate, works against the Pirates during the sixth inning of a game on May 30 in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Arlington graduate Walker reaches big leagues with Giants

The WSU alum was drafted in 2018 and has since climbed the minor-league ladder until his promotion to the majors on May 21.

Lake Stevens’ Cole Becker celebrates a touchdown with teammates after putting his team up against Kennedy Catholic in the WIAA 4A State Football Championship game Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, at Mount Tahoma Stadium in Tacoma, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
2022-23 Herald Athletic Cup: Lake Stevens captures 1st place

The Vikings win the competition, which rewards local high schools for their overall athletic success, for the second straight year.

X
Spring 2023 All-Wesco teams

Note: All-Wesco teams are chosen by the league’s coaches. For any misspellings… Continue reading

X
AquaSox bullpen falters in 9th in loss to Canadians

Everett carries a two-run lead into the final inning, but a late grand slam lifts Vancouver to an 8-5 win.

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr., right, gets up after safely steals second base as Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford looks on during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 7, 2023, in San Diego. Tatis Jr. advanced to third on the throwing error by catcher Cal Raleigh. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Kirby struggles, Mariners fall to Padres to split short series

The young righty gives up five runs and 11 hits in a season-low 3.2 innings as Seattle loses 10-3.

Everett Public Schools athletes of the year Jackson's Sylas Williams (left) and Cascade's Abby Surowiec (right) with Superintendent Ian Saltzman at the Everett Public Schools athletics awards banquet Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Everett Public Schools)
Student-athletes honored at Everett Public Schools banquet

Jackson’s Sylas Williams and Cascade’s Abby Surowiec were named the athletes of the year at the annual awards ceremony.

X
Schaeffer dominant in debut, AquaSox blank Canadians

The 2022 Seattle Mariners draft pick strikes out 10 in his first start after being promoted as Everett wins 2-0.

Most Read