SEATTLE — Chase DeLauter homered for a third consecutive game, a two-run shot in the 10th inning, as the Cleveland Guardians defeated the host Seattle Mariners 6-5 on Saturday night.
The Guardians broke a 3-3 tie on Seattle third baseman Brendon Donovan’s throwing error on Steven Kwan’s bunt. That scored Brayan Rocchio, who opened the 10th as the runner at second base. DeLauter then deposited a 2-2 fastball from Andres Munoz (0-1) just over the left-field wall. It was DeLauter’s fourth homer of the season.
DeLauter is the second player in MLB history with four home runs in first three regular-season games of his career. Trevor Story, in 2016, was the first to achieve that. DeLauter is third player in MLB history to hit at least one homer in each of his first three regular-season games. Story and Kyle Lewis (in 2019) are the others.
The Mariners’ Luke Raley hit a two-run shot to center with one out in the bottom of the 10th. It was the Medina Highland grad’s third home run in as many games, but Cleveland right-hander Connor Brogdon struck out Leo Rivas and Cole Young to get the save.
The Mariners forced extra innings as Julio Rodriguez broke a season-opening 0-for-10 slump with a two-out, two-strike single to right field in the bottom of the ninth off Cade Smith (1-0). That scored Young, who led off with a double to left.
The Guardians broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh. With two outs, CJ Kayfus and Rocchio, the Nos. 8-9 batters in the lineup, drew walks off Eduard Bazardo. Kwan then blooped a single down the left-field line, scoring Kayfus with the go-ahead run.
Mariners starter Bryan Woo cruised through the first five innings before the Guardians broke through in the sixth, rallying from a 2-0 deficit. Rocchio drew a leadoff walk and scored on Jose Ramirez’s two-out double into the right-field corner. Ramirez advanced to third on the throw to the plate and scored on Kyle Manzardo’s single to center.
The Mariners opened the scoring in the second. Randy Arozarena drew a one-out walk before being erased on a grounder by Donovan. Victor Robles doubled into the left-field corner, with Donovan scoring from first. It was Seattle’s first run of the season that didn’t come via a home run.
The Mariners doubled their advantage in the fourth as Arozarena and Donovan led off with singles before Robles flew out to the warning track in right. Arozarena tagged and took third base on the play. Arozarena scored on a wild pitch.
Guardians starter Joey Cantillo went 3 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on four hits. The left-hander walked three and struck out five.
Woo, a right-hander, gave up two runs on four hits in six innings, with one walk and nine strikeouts.
The Mariners’ Cal Raleigh snapped a zero-for-8 slump — with eight strikeouts — to open the season with a third-inning single. It was the Mariners’ first single of the campaign after six homers, a triple and three doubles.
The Akron Beacon Journal sports department can be contacted via email at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Chase DeLauter continues historic start, Guardians win in extra innings
Reporting by Field Level Media / Akron Beacon Journal
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