Mariners Suffer Early Setback in 9-6 Defeat to Tigers

Mariners Struggle in First-Inning Deficit, Fall 9-6 to Tigers

Seattle Mariners starter Emerson Hancock endured a rough outing, giving up six earned runs in the first inning, leading to a 9-6 loss against the Detroit Tigers on Monday. With the defeat, the Mariners dropped to a 2-3 record, falling below .500.

Making his first start of the season in place of the injured George Kirby (shoulder inflammation), Hancock allowed seven hits, including one home run, over just 0.2 innings. The Tigers quickly took advantage of his struggles, with half of the runs scoring after two outs. The Mariners were visibly frustrated as the first inning dragged on, with fans expressing their discontent through boos and jeers. Detroit sent 11 batters to the plate before Seattle finally got out of the inning.

Tigs bat around in the first 🐅 pic.twitter.com/Oha2aNpr9g

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 1, 2025

Hancock reflected on his performance after the game, saying, “I’m super frustrated because I didn’t do my part to help us win. I dug us too big a hole early, and I just didn’t give us a chance.”

The Tigers’ offensive onslaught in the first inning was driven by Kerry Carpenter (single), Riley Greene (home run), Dillon Dingler (single), Trey Sweeney (single), and Javier Baez (double), who combined for the six runs.

Seattle managed to limit further damage but was unable to fully recover. The Mariners scored six runs in the remaining innings, with Randy Arozarena hitting a solo homer in the second and Julio Rodriguez driving in J.P. Crawford in the third. Carpenter added a run for the Tigers in the third with an RBI double.

Randy starts chipping away. #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/4KmPT7Quo8

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) April 1, 2025

Arozarena and Rodriguez had solid performances, with Arozarena finishing 2-for-4 with a homer, a run, and an RBI. Rodriguez went 2-for-5 with a triple, two runs, and an RBI.

Dingler’s RBI single in the fourth extended Detroit’s lead to 8-2, and while Carlos Vargas provided some relief, allowing only one run in 3.2 innings, the Mariners couldn’t close the gap. Vargas’ only blemish came in the ninth when Justyn-Henry Malloy’s RBI single pushed Detroit’s lead to 9-6.

Seattle fought back with a solo home run by Luke Raley in the fourth and an RBI single from Jorge Polanco in the fifth. After Vargas exited, Cal Raleigh hit a two-run homer in the ninth, but the Mariners fell short. They finished the game 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position, while Detroit was 6-for-14.

Despite the loss, Seattle manager Dan Wilson praised the team’s effort, especially the bullpen, with Vargas contributing three-plus solid innings. “The guys really battled back and gave them all they could handle until the end,” he said.

The Mariners will aim to rebound in Game 2 against Detroit on Tuesday, with Logan Gilbert scheduled to start against Tigers pitcher Casey Mize.