Lead
On March 28, 2026 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter hit a two-run, 10th-inning home run to lift the Cleveland Guardians to a 6-5 victory over the Seattle Mariners. The shot off Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz produced Cleveland’s decisive runs in extra innings and marked DeLauter’s fourth career home run in his third major-league game. The game also featured a late tying RBI single from Julio Rodríguez in the ninth and a two-run game-tying homer by Luke Raley in the bottom of the 10th that fell short. The contest combined historic rookie production, notable milestones and strong starting pitching from Seattle’s Bryan Woo.
Key Takeaways
- Final score: Cleveland Guardians 6, Seattle Mariners 5 in 10 innings on March 28, 2026 at T-Mobile Park.
- Chase DeLauter hit his fourth career home run — a two-run blast in the top of the 10th off Andrés Muñoz (0-1) — and has homered in each of his first three major-league games.
- Julio Rodríguez delivered a two-out, two-strike RBI single in the ninth off Cade Smith (1-0) to force extra innings and tie the game at 3-3.
- Luke Raley homered for the third straight game with a two-run shot in the bottom of the 10th, cutting Cleveland’s lead to 6-5.
- Connor Brogdon earned his first save of the season by striking out Leo Rivas and Cole Young to end the game.
- Mariners starter Bryan Woo tossed six innings, allowed two runs and struck out nine batters in a strong outing despite taking the loss.
- José Ramírez produced an RBI double in the sixth and reached the 400-double milestone in franchise history, joining Tris Speaker (486) and Nap Lajoie (424).
- Cal Raleigh recorded his first hit of the season — an RBI single in the first inning — after a run of eight consecutive strikeouts to open the year.
Background
The Guardians and Mariners opened their four-game series in Seattle with a match that juxtaposed veteran milestones and historic rookie success. Cleveland’s franchise, now in its 126th year, has a long lineage of offensive milestones, so José Ramírez joining Tris Speaker and Nap Lajoie on the franchise doubles list drew immediate historical notice. The Guardians entered the season with an eye on depth from younger position players, and DeLauter’s rapid rise through spring and early regular-season playing time has focused attention on Cleveland’s outfield options.
Seattle, meanwhile, leaned on a pitching staff expected to be a team strength; Bryan Woo’s night of six innings and nine strikeouts matched that expectation even though the Mariners fell in extra innings. The Mariners also carried offensive continuity from 2025 — including power from Luke Raley and the presence of Cal Raleigh, last season’s AL MVP runner-up — while working through early-season strikeout issues for some hitters. Both clubs were using the series to evaluate rotation depth and bullpen roles as they move through the opening week of the regular season.
Main Event
Bryan Woo worked through a productive start for Seattle, registering six innings with nine strikeouts and allowing two runs; Cleveland broke through in the sixth when José Ramírez lined an RBI double and Kyle Manzardo followed with a run-scoring single. Those two sixth-inning runs gave Cleveland a 3-0 advantage at the time and were the product of timely hitting against Seattle’s starter.
Seattle chipped away later. Cal Raleigh delivered an RBI single in the first inning for an early run, and Julio Rodríguez produced a dramatic response in the ninth. With two outs and two strikes, Rodríguez connected for an RBI single off Cleveland reliever Cade Smith that pulled the Mariners level at 3-3 and forced extra innings.
In the top of the 10th, DeLauter extended Cleveland’s lead with a two-run home run on an elevated fastball from Andrés Muñoz, sending the ball over the left-field wall and making the score 6-3. DeLauter’s homer was his fourth in three career games and gave Cleveland breathing room late in the contest.
Seattle answered in the bottom of the 10th as Luke Raley hit a two-run homer — his third straight game with a home run — narrowing the deficit to 6-5. Cleveland turned to Connor Brogdon to close the inning; Brogdon struck out Leo Rivas and Cole Young to seal the 6-5 victory and record his first save of the season.
Analysis & Implications
DeLauter’s immediate impact changes early-season roster conversations for Cleveland. Hitting his fourth home run in only his third major-league game is an exceptionally rare start; teams will need to balance the rookie’s early offensive surge with long-term development and plate-approach considerations. For the Guardians, DeLauter’s performance provides a short-term offensive boost and a potential middle-of-the-order option if his hot stretch stabilizes into consistent production.
For Seattle, the game underscores both strengths and vulnerabilities. Bryan Woo’s six-inning, nine-strikeout outing is a positive signal for the Mariners’ rotation, but the bullpen mix — highlighted by Andrés Muñoz taking the loss after yielding a decisive homer — may face scrutiny if late-inning runs continue to appear. Luke Raley’s third straight game with a homer suggests lineup resilience, but the Mariners will want to limit extra-inning exposure to preserve their bullpen across the series.
José Ramírez reaching 400 doubles is a reminder of Cleveland’s sustained run-producer core; Ramírez’s milestone places him among franchise legends and highlights the lineup’s blend of veteran performance and youth. The balancing act for both clubs in the opening week will be converting early starts and bullpen deployments into sustainable roles, particularly with multiple season-debut starts and innings limits under consideration for younger arms.
Comparison & Data
| Player / Pitcher | Stat line (this game) |
|---|---|
| Chase DeLauter | 10th-inning two-run HR; 4 career HR in 3 games |
| Bryan Woo (SEA) | 6 IP, 2 R, 9 K |
| Andrés Muñoz (SEA) | Allowed 10th-inning 2-run HR (record 0-1) |
| Connor Brogdon (CLE) | Earned first save; struck out final two batters |
The table above highlights the individual lines that most affected the result: DeLauter’s late power, Woo’s strong starting performance, Muñoz’s blown save, and Brogdon’s successful save opportunity. Those discrete contributions drove the 10th-inning decision and are useful markers for roster and matchup planning in the next series.
Reactions & Quotes
Paraphrase: Guardians manager praised DeLauter’s composure in extra innings and credited the young outfielder’s fastball recognition for the decisive swing.
Guardians manager (postgame paraphrase)
Paraphrase: A Mariners coach acknowledged Bryan Woo’s difficult-luck outing, noting the starting pitching was strong even as the bullpen yielded late runs.
Mariners coaching staff (postgame paraphrase)
Paraphrase: Analysts on social coverage highlighted DeLauter’s historic start and suggested teams will watch whether his early power translates to long-term consistency.
Baseball analysts (media paraphrase)
Unconfirmed
- Future role changes for Andrés Muñoz and the Mariners’ late-inning bullpen remain unannounced and could change pending medical/managerial updates.
- The Guardians’ long-term plan for Chase DeLauter’s playing time and any roster moves tied to his hot start have not been formally disclosed.
Bottom Line
Chase DeLauter’s two-run home run in the 10th inning delivered a narrow but historic early-season victory for the Cleveland Guardians over the Seattle Mariners on March 28, 2026. The result mixed bright signs — a dominant start from Bryan Woo and milestone offense from José Ramírez — with late-game bullpen questions for both clubs. For Cleveland, DeLauter’s emergence adds a new variable to lineup construction; for Seattle, the emphasis will be on tightening late-inning execution while building on strong starting pitching performances.
Both teams leave the game with actionable takeaways: Seattle will evaluate bullpen usage and recovery plans between games, while Cleveland must consider how to integrate a rookie with an unusually hot start into a veteran lineup. The series finale will feature Slade Cecconi for the Guardians against Emerson Hancock for the Mariners, with both starters making season debuts and each club looking to address the opportunities and vulnerabilities exposed in this extra-inning contest.