Another opening day full of festivities and a  4-2 win  for the Mariners

As is customary for the Seattle Mariners, the ball club pulled out all the stops to give their starved fan base hope.  To appease the fan base’s offseason discontent, the Mariners announced the contract extension for Carl Raleigh days before the season opener. In addition to the  Raleigh news, the Mariners front office had future hall Famer Ichiro Suzuki throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Before  Suzuki’s throw, the Mariners literally rolled out the red carpet and introduced every player on the roster. The pregame festivities were spot on as the atmosphere in T Mobile was festive and electric. A solid effort by Logan Gilbert kept the fans engaged and hopeful till the very end.

A GOOD OUTING

 Gilbert was making his first opening day start as a Mariner. A 2024 All-Star, Gilbert had a solid spring after leading the  American League in appearances last year.  On  Thursday night, Gilbert picked up where he left off, retiring the first eight batters he faced before giving a  single to the A’s  Jacob Wilson in the second inning. Gilbert was replaced by Trent Thorton in the eighth inning after pitching a seven-inning, two-hit, one-run performance in which he struck out eight batters.  The effort by Logan kept the Mariner faithful, hopeful their team would find a way to pull out a win.

A FANTASTIC FINISH

 Thorton tested the Mariner’s faithful resolve when he promptly gave up a home run to the A’s Tyler Sodestrom, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead. Thorton quickly gathered himself and retired the next three batters, striking out Gio Urshela and forcing consecutive groundouts by  Max Muncey and Jacob Wilson. The yeoman effort by Thorton brought life to the crowd and his teammates.

POLANCO IGNITES THE CROWD

Mariner nation’s faith was rewarded in the bottom of the eighth inning.   With the crowd edging their heroes on, Randy Arozarena obliged the Mariner faithful with a game-tying 424 home run. The crowd noise level rose to a fever pitch when Luke  Raley walked to first. Decibel levels were broken when Jorge Polanco hit his first Opening Day Home Run and brought Raley home to give the Mariners a 4-2 lead.  The home run completed a 3 for 4 night for Polanco.

MUNOZ SEALS THE DEAL

Anthony Munoz sealed the deal by retiring all three of the A’s batters he faced in the top of the ninth inning. With the win, the Mariners’ opening-day record improved to  30-19, the best opening-day record in American League History. Since 2005, the Mariners have been 16-5, the best record in the MLB.

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