SEATTLE (AP) — Dominic Canzone hit a two-run single in the seventh inning and the Seattle Mariners beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-2 on Friday night to move back to .500.
Canzone, who was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on June 9, smacked a base hit through the right side of the infield off left-hander Tim Herrin (4-2) to score two during a four-run inning for the Mariners. Randy Arozarena broke a 2-2 tie with an RBI single, and rookie Cole Young brought home another run two batters after Canzone's hit with a double to left field.
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Seattle Mariners' Jorge Polanco hits a solo home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo, left, reacts after giving up back-to-back home runs during the third inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Mariners' Rowdy Tellez, center, celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Mariners' Ben Williamson celebrates at first base after hitting a single during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Mariners, from left, Rowdy Tellez, Eduard Bazardo., Cole Young and J.P. Crawford celebrate after a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle starter Luis Castillo gave up two runs and three hits in six innings — with both Cleveland runs coming on consecutive solo home runs by Nolan Jones and Steven Kwan in the third inning.
Rowdy Tellez had a solo homer in the fourth inning to get the Mariners on the scoreboard, and Jorge Polanco added one in the eighth to cap the scoring.
Carlos Vargas (2-5) pitched a scoreless seventh to pick up the win, and Matt Brash gave up one hit in the eighth, and Eduard Bazardo finished up as the Mariners got their fifth win in 18 games.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Tellez – who homered earlier in the game – rifled a line drive up the middle off Guardians reliever Cade Smith’s forehead. Smith stayed in the game, though, and completed a scoreless inning.
With a walk in the sixth inning, Cleveland's Jose Ramirez extended his MLB-best on-base streak to 38 games. It’s the longest stretch by an American League player this season, and second in MLB only to the Philadelphia Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber (47_.
Mariners RHP George Kirby (1-3, 6.53 ERA) will start for on Saturday against Guardians RHP Tanner Bibee (4-6, 3.81).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Seattle Mariners' Jorge Polanco hits a solo home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo, left, reacts after giving up back-to-back home runs during the third inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Mariners' Rowdy Tellez, center, celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Mariners' Ben Williamson celebrates at first base after hitting a single during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Mariners, from left, Rowdy Tellez, Eduard Bazardo., Cole Young and J.P. Crawford celebrate after a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Friday, June 13, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Matthew Stafford threw a 19-yard go-ahead touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds to lift the Los Angeles Rams to a dramatic 34-31 wild-card round win over the Carolina Panthers in the opening game of the NFL playoffs on Saturday.
Stafford finished 24 of 42 for 304 yards with three touchdown passes and an interception, while Puka Nacua had 10 receptions for 111 yards and two total touchdowns as the Rams (13-5), who were 10 1/2-point favorites, advanced to the divisional playoffs.
Bryce Young threw for 264 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score for Carolina (8-10), which finished the season losing four of its final five games. Jalen Coker had career highs with nine receptions for 134 yards with a touchdown and Chuba Hubbard ran for 46 yards and two touchdowns.
The Panthers fell behind 14-0 early, but stormed back to take a 24-20 lead on Hubbard's second touchdown of the run game early in the fourth quarter.
Stafford, who was selected as an All-Pro earlier in the day, led the Rams back down on the field and found Kyren Williams for a 13-yard touchdown strike over the middle for a 27-24 lead.
Los Angeles appeared to be in charge after getting a stop on defense giving Stafford the ball back.
But a holding penalty put the Rams behind the sticks and forced a punt, which Isaiah Simmons blocked to set the Panthers up the Rams 30.
Four plays later, Young found Coker in the left corner of the end zone for a 7-yard scoring strike to give Carolina a 31-27 lead 2:39 left, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
But Stafford quickly moved the Rams 71 yards in seven plays with Panthers two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn on the sideline with a concussion, finishing it off with a perfectly placed pass to Parkinson near the right side of the goal line. Parkinson, who had two TDs last week, forced his way into the end zone for the score.
“Yeah, total team effort," Stafford said. “Obviously had some mistakes along the way. I turned it over, we had a punt blocked, didn’t score before the half when we probably should have. So, a lot to clean up, but found a way to win it late. I believe in my teammates, I know they believe in me.”
It was nearly the second time this season the Rams lost to the Panthers as a 10 1/2-point underdog. Carolina won 31-28 on Nov. 30.
Carolina's last attempt to move into field-goal range ended when Jimmy Horn dropped a fourth down pass from Young.
Carolina was hoping the return of former quarterback Cam Newton to Bank of America Stadium to hit the “Keep Pounding” drum before the game would give the Panthers a little extra mojo early, but things didn't start well.
After the Rams defense came up with a stop on fourth down at midfield on Carolina's opening drive, Stafford quickly moved the offense downfield and found Nacua for a 14-yard touchdown pass over the middle for a 7-0 lead.
Nacua made it 14-0 on a 5-yard run following Young's interception.
Carolina cut the lead 17-14 at halftime after a 1-yard touchdown run by Hubbard and a 16-yard scramble by Young, the second-longest TD run of his career.
The Rams had a chance to build on the lead, but Nacau dropped a potential third TD on a pass down the right sideline from Stafford just before halftime.
Stafford surpassed Kurt Warner for the most postseason passing yards and completions in Rams history.
Rams: advance to the divisional round.
Panthers: season over.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) makes a touchdown catch past Carolina Panthers safety Nick Scott (21) during the first half of an NFL Wild Card playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams (17) is tackled by Carolina Panthers linebacker Christian Rozeboom during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Carolina Panthers, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson, center left, celebrates his touchdown catch with wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Carolina Panthers, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (5) is tackled by Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) runs for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) runs after a catch during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Carolina Panthers, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) is tackled by Carolina Panthers linebacker Christian Rozeboom (56) during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson (84) dives into the end zone for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
