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Seattle Mariners open season with win against Cleveland
Crawford and France shine in eighth-inning rally
Seattle Mariners opened their season with a win against the Cleveland Guardians thanks to an eighth-inning rally. The game had been a pitchers’ duel between Shane Bieber and Luis Castillo until the final inning. J.P. Crawford received a walk benefiting from a violation of the pitch clock. Crawford’s walk became even more intruguing when Ty France slammed a three-run homer. The rally helped the Mariners to a 3-0 win at T-Mobile Park in front of a buzzed crowd.
Bieber and Castillo shine in pitchers’ duel
Before the eighth inning, there hardly had been any action from either team. Castillo looked like he had followed up on his spectacular performance from last season when he limited the Guardians to only one hit over six innings worth of work. Bieber couldn’t escape the Mariners’ aggressiveness, allowing six hits and three walks while scattering three strikeouts over six scoreless innings.
France shines in eighth-inning rally
France’s double and home run were the highlights of the night. He started the eighth inning rally with an opposite-field three-run homer, driving in Crawford and Kolten Wong. Earlier in the game, France doubled off the right-center field wall. After the homer, the Mariners were able to finish the game despite a small threat from the Guardians in the ninth inning.
Mariners take opening day win
Seattle opened their season with a win over Cleveland, looking to replicate their playoff runs from last year. The team won thanks to an eighth-inning rally, although the game had initially been a pitchers’ duel. The Mariners will look to improve and make their playoff runs while the Guardians will attempt to defend their place in the postseason.
Team News
Seattle are still awaiting the return of INF Dylan Moore who is suffering from an oblique strain. OF Taylor Trammell has been placed on the injured list and is a few weeks from getting out on a rehab assignment. The Guardians had RHP Hunter Gaddis on the mound.
Credit: https://www.sent-trib.com/2023/03/31/pitch-clock-sparks-mariners-rally-for-3-0-win-over-guardians/
