SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 31: Andres Gimenez #0 and Myles Straw #7 of the Cleveland Guardians score during the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on March 31, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)Photo: Getty Images/Steph Chambers
SEATTLE, WA--- The Guardians got their first win of the 2023 season, getting back to 2022 form defeating the Mariners 9-4. Steven Kwan would make history, becoming just the 2nd Cleveland Indian/Guardian to record 5 RBI in a single game within the first 2 contest of the season, the first? Larry Doby on April 16th 1953 against Detroit. In a much different pace from Thursday night, the Guardians would get 15 at bats with runners in scoring position, compared to just 1 Thursday night.
Seattle would get on the board first in the bottom of the first with Kolten Wong driving in Julio Rodriguez. But the Guardians started chipping away at Seattle starter Robbie Ray, the first 2 runs for the Guardians came from a throwing error from Mariners right fielder Teoscar Hernandez, the next run would be the first of 5 RBI from Kwan, a SAC fly that brought home Mike Zunino. Robbie Ray had 4 walks through the first 3 innings as the Guardians were very patient at the plate Friday night, forcing Ray into a high pitch count early. The Mariners would do some chipping of their own, with Teoscar Hernandez wearing down Cleveland starter Hunter Gaddis with a 12 pitch at bat, even though Gaddis got the strikeout, Cal Raleigh would immediately come to bat and knock in 2 runs with a double. In the 4th Kwan would hit his 2nd and 3rd RBI of the night with a double of his own, bringing in Andres Gimenez and Myles Straw. The Mariners would get within one after a ball off the bat of Julio Rodriguez would pop out of Kwan's glove allowing Cooper Hummel to score. The Guardians would then have a 3 run 5th inning featuring Kwan's 4th and 5th RBI on the night along with Amed Rosario driving in a run as well.
The Guardians would score on 6 unearned runs via 3 errors from Seattle. Along with the errors, Seattle would walk 8 Guardians batters, already more then any game they played in 2022. The Guardians continue the series in Seattle Sunday at 4:10 with Cal Quantrill on the mound.