3/31/26

(Seattle, WA) After the late inning heroics in the opener gave the Seattle Mariners the edge over the New York Yankees in this marquee early season showdown, both teams had complete confidence that they would be taking the middle game of the three-game set. This was because it would be a battle between the two teams Opening Day starters. That paired with some reasons for optimism from their stars in the lineup gave both Dan Wilson and Aaron Boone confidence that they could build momentum into the finale.

Logan Gilbert did not have his best stuff on Opening Day in a loss to Cleveland. However, Gilbert would look to use that as fuel and a massive showdown with a very talented contender would need to be the spark to get him back on track. Max Fried would take the hill for the Yankees and would be the best lefty Seattle has faced in the early portion of the season. Fried did not allow a run in the Yankees season-opening shutout over the San Francisco Giants and he would look to carry that momentum into a crucial game two for the Yankees.

Yankees 5, Mariners 0 (Game Two, March 31st)

Everything felt off early for the Mariners as New York struck early. In the top of the 1st, Cody Bellinger kept the inning alive with a two-out single after it looked like Logan Gilbert would cruise through his first inning. Ben Rice made that two-out hit matter as he roped a line drive down the right field line. Seattle had a chance to get Bellinger at the plate but the throw by Victor Robles was off target, allowing Bellinger to score to make it 1-0. Giancarlo Stanton then hit a high pop fly that somehow dropped just fair down the right field line to bring home Rice and give Max Fried an early 2-0 lead.

The lefty was carving up the Mariners with some help from his defense but Seattle’s defense kept them in it as well. Aaron Judge hit into a double play in the 3rd and after that, Cal Raleigh made an absolute perfect throw to cutdown Cody Bellinger trying to steal second to end the inning. The M’s would finally record their first hit in the bottom of the 4th as Josh Naylor got his first hit of the season. However, his single didn’t amount to anything as the game remained 2-0.

While both teams played very good defense (I’m looking at you Cole Young), Seattle would have some issues in the 6th that blew this one open. Trent Grisham hit a ground-rule double to begin the inning, but Logan Gilbert continued to keep Aaron Judge quiet by getting him on strikes for the second time. Cody Bellinger stayed hot with a soft line drive base hit to center to put Yankees at the corners with one out. To avoid a double play, Bellinger tried to steal second again and this time Raleigh’s throw was not good and got into center field. That allowed Grisham to score and Bellinger to move to third with still one out. Ben Rice walked before Giancarlo Stanton stayed hot with an RBI double. That ended Logan Gilbert’s day as he couldn’t get out of the 6th and New York got one more run off of Cole Wilcox on a Jazz Chisholm Jr. single to make it 5-0.

Seattle’s only real threat off of Max Fried came in the 7th. Julio Rodríguez singled to begin the inning but Josh Naylor hit into a double play to erase that. Randy Arozarena reached via a hit by pitch and Brendan Donovan singled to put two on. Fried danced out of danger though as Victor Robles lined out to Judge in right to end the inning. Fried continued his early season scoreless streak by going seven innings without a run allowed on three hits with one walk and six strikeouts as Yankee pitching continued their early season dominance on Tuesday night.

There really wasn’t a pulse for the Mariners after that. Brent Headrick and Tim Hill handled business in the final two innings with only one baserunner for Seattle and that was a harmless single by Cole Young. Casey Legumina pitched well to help save the bullpen for the finale but there was no offense to speak of for the M’s. For the first time this season, Seattle had been shutout as the M’s dropped game two to the Yankees, 5-0.

Notable Performances

Yankees

Mariners

• Logan Gilbert (L, 0-1)- 5.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO
• Julio Rodríguez- 1-3, BB
• Josh Naylor- 1-4

What’s Next

Seattle (3-3) will look to earn their first series win of the season on Wednesday in their first day game of the season in the rubber match with the Yankees. New York has allowed just 3 runs in their first 35 innings played, which is the best stretch to start a season since the St. Louis Cardinals did it in 1943. Runs will be tough to come by in the finale for the Mariners as they will take on Cam Schlittler for the Yankees. Schlittler went 5 1/3 scoreless in his season debut and allowed just one hit with no walks while striking out 8. Seattle will turn to George Kirby to try to quiet the Yankees lineup. The control-oriented Kirby gave the M’s a quality start in his 2026 debut and allowed just one run and two hits with two walks and six strikeouts in what was Seattle’s first win of the year. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10pm on Wednesday afternoon.

Mariners Minor League Update

El Paso Chihuahuas 6, Tacoma Rainiers 4

Notable Performances

Chihuahuas

Rainiers

• Patrick Wisdom- 2-3, HR, RBI, R, BB
• Brock Rodden- 1-3, 2B, RBI, R
• Randy Dobnak (L, 0-1)- 4.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO

The big minor league news for the Mariners came early on Tuesday morning. Seattle signed SS Colt Emerson to the largest contract ever for a player to not yet play in a Major League game. The 8-year deal worth $95 million locks down a premium position for the Mariners for years to come. Seattle did the same when they signed Evan White before his debut and tried to do the same with Jared Kelenic, although he rejected the offer. The signing is not going to rush Emerson’s development as the M’s are going to continue to give him time in AAA with Cole Young having a good start to the year and J.P. Crawford working his way back. The signing also means that this will likely be the final year for Crawford in Seattle as the M’s look to continue to build around the star-studded group coming up through the minors.

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