Mitch Haniger hit a three-run homer in the first inning to provide all the offense needed by Marco Gonzales, who pitched six innings with aplomb as the Seattle Mariners beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 on Thursday.
Seattle took the first game of a four-game series between two teams seeking to advance to the playoffs in the American League. The two teams will meet six more times over the next 10 days in what could be a sneak peek of a postseason series.
Julio Rodriguez drew a walk to open the game, and Jesse Winker singled, before Haniger continued to fire in the batter’s box. He found a pitch from starter Triston McKenzie (9-10) and sent the ball over the fence to left-center field in just the third at-bat of the game.
The fly ball seemed harmless at first but ended up becoming a home run on a warm afternoon.
Haniger has homered in three of the last four games and is hitting .313 in 17 games since coming off the disabled list.
Cleveland’s only run off Gonzales (9-12) came in the first inning, when Steven Kwan doubled and scored on a groundout that retired Jose Ramirez.
Gonzales got a key grounder from Josh Naylor for the out that ended that first inning.
Andrés Muñoz struck out Ramírez with runners on first and third to end the eighth inning. One later, he prescribed a couple of strikeouts and his third save was credited.
For the Guardians, the Dominicans Amed Rosario 4-2, Ramírez 3-0, Omar González 4-1. The Venezuelan Andrés Giménez 4-0.
For the Mariners, the Dominicans Rodríguez 3-0 with a run scored, Carlos Santana 1-0. The Venezuelan Eugenio Suarez 3-0.