SEATTLE (AP) — Rookie Chase DeLauter hit his first two career home runs as the Cleveland Guardians beat the Seattle Mariners 6-4 on Thursday night.
DeLauter hit a home run in the first regular-season at-bat of his major league career in the top of the first. He became the fifth player in Cleveland’s 126-year franchise history to hit a home run in his first career regular-season at-bat. DeLauter is the first to do so since Jhonkensy Noel on June 26, 2024.
Seattle responded in the bottom half of the first when third baseman Brendan Donovan hit a solo shot in his first at-bat with the franchise. The Mariners acquired the former All-Star from the St. Louis Cardinals in February. Donovan’s home run marked the first time a Mariners player hit a leadoff home run on opening day.
The Mariners took a 2-1 lead in the second on the first of two solo home runs by Dominic Canzone. But Cleveland went back in front 3-2 on a two-run double by Brayan Rocchio, and retook the lead for good on a two-run double by Jose Ramírez. in the seventh.
The seven-time All-Star went well below the strike zone to hit a slider from Mariners left-hander Gabe Speier (0-1) into the left-center gap. Guardians reliever Connor Brogdon (1-0) replaced starter Tanner Bibee, who exited the game with right shoulder inflammation in the bottom of the sixth and set the stage for Cade Smith to lock down his first save of the season.
Luke Raley also hit a home run for Seattle in the fifth. The Mariners had two hits that weren’t home runs in their first loss of the season.
The teams continue the four-game series Friday night, with RHP George Kirby starting for Seattle opposite righty Gavin Williams.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
Cleveland Guardians' Brayan Rocchio (4) greets Chase DeLauter, right, after they scored on a two-run double by José Ramirez against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning of an opening-day baseball game, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Cleveland Guardians' Chase DeLauter jogs the bases after hitting a solo home run against Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert during the first inning of an opening-day baseball game, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Cleveland Guardians' Chase DeLauter jogs the bases after hitting a solo home run against Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert during the first inning of an opening-day baseball game, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
CINCINNATI (AP) — Garrett Crochet allowed only three hits in six innings, Ceddanne Rafaela hit an RBI single in the seventh inning and the Boston Red Sox got their first opening day shutout since 2015, defeating the Cincinnati Reds 3-0 on Thursday.
Roman Anthony had three hits for the Red Sox, who had their 11th opening day shutout — with all but one on the road.
It's the ninth time the Reds have been blanked in an opener and the first since 2018. Rookie first baseman Sal Stewart had three of Cincinnati's four hits, including a pair of doubles.
Crochet (1-0) became the first pitcher to start on opening day in each of his first three seasons as a starter, according to MLB. The left-hander struck out six and walked two en route to his first victory in an opener.
Crochet allowed only one hit the first five innings before running into some trouble in the sixth. Matt McLain drew a walk with one out and singles by Elly de la Cruz and Stewart loaded the bases.
The left-hander struck out Eugenio Suárez and Spencer Steer to get out of the inning.
Former Reds closer Aroldis Chapman retired the side in the ninth for the save.
Andrew Abbott, the first lefty to start a Reds opener since 1998, matched Crochet with six shutout innings and struck out four.
Rafaela lined Pierce Johnson's fastball up the middle to drive in Marcelo Mayer. Mayer came on as a pinch-hitter in the seventh and drove a double to the warning track in left center off Johnson (0-1) that was just beyond the outstretched glove of Reds center fielder TJ Friedl.
Mayer advanced to third on Carlos Narváez's sacrifice bunt before scoring on Rafaela's second single of the game.
Boston added a pair of runs in the ninth on RBI singles by Trevor Story and Jaren Duran.
Red Sox RHP Sonny Gray (14-8, 4.28 ERA in 2025) will face Reds RHP Brady Singer (14-12, 4.03 ERA in 2025) on Saturday.
This story corrects that Crochet is a left-hander instead of a right-hander.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott throws during the second inning of an opening-day baseball game against the Boston Red Sox in Cincinnati, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Former Cincinnati Reds player and Hall of Famer Johnny Bench, left, greets Cincinnati Reds' Eugenio Suárez before an opening-day baseball game against the Boston Red Sox in Cincinnati, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora, left, Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona, right greet each other before an opening-day baseball game in Cincinnati, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona greets the team during introduction before an opening-day baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox in Cincinnati, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet throws during the first inning of an opening-day baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
