Season opener Emerson Hancock got shelled during his first start, with Detroit Tigers battering him for six runs in less than an inning. According to FOX 13 Seattle, Hancock was pulled after giving up seven hits and a walk, culminating with a two-run double off the bat of Javier Báez. This early exit came after a scant 39 pitches.
The Mariners fell to a 9-6 loss, the catastrophe unfolding in the very first inning. Fans at T-Mobile Park voiced their displeasure as the scoreboard showed against their favor. As reported by Sports Illustrated, frustration was palpable, both on the field and in the stands, as half of the runs were scored with two outs.
In the aftermath, Hancock didn't dodge responsibility. "I think (I'm) super frustrated just because I didn't do my part in helping us get a win," he told Sports Illustrated. Detroit had a field day, with Báez, Dillon Dingler, and Trey Sweeney each bagging three hits. Their assault didn't let up after Hancock's departure, with the Tigers closing the night with 18 hits in total.
Despite a rough start for the Mariners, there was still some offensive firepower on display. Randy Arozarena, Cal Raleigh, and Luke Raley each put one over the fence for Seattle, as reported by KOMO News. Julio Rodríguez contributed with a pair of hits and two runs. Sadly for the Mariners, this wasn't enough to claw back from the damaging first inning that set the tone for the rest of the night.
The Mariners will have to find resilience as they seek to bounce back from an under .500 start to their campaign.
