Hancock Nearly Throws No-Hitter as Mariners Blank Guardians 8-0

Seattle pitcher Emerson Hancock came within one inning of a no-hitter before being pulled after six perfect frames. The Mariners dominated Cleveland 8-0 to split their four-game series, with Hancock striking out nine batters in his stellar performance.

Seattle pitcher Emerson Hancock nearly achieved baseball perfection Sunday, tossing six no-hit innings before being removed from the game as the Mariners crushed the Cleveland Guardians 8-0 to split their four-game series.

Hancock (1-0), filling in for injured starter Bryce Miller who’s sidelined with an oblique injury, dominated Cleveland hitters by striking out nine batters while walking just one and hitting another. Remarkably, no Cleveland batter managed to hit a ball beyond the infield during Hancock’s dominant outing.

The Guardians came closest to breaking through against Hancock during the third frame when bottom-of-the-order hitter Brayan Rocchio grounded a ball that caromed off first base and popped high into the air. Josh Naylor corralled the unusual bounce and easily tagged the base ahead of Rocchio.

Cleveland finally broke up the no-hit attempt when Chase DeLauter lined a single to right field off reliever Cooper Criswell to open the seventh inning. The Guardians managed only one additional hit – a single by Daniel Schneemann with one out in the eighth. Cleveland starter Slade Cecconi (0-1) struggled through 4 1/3 innings, surrendering six runs on six hits while walking three and striking out five.

In other Sunday action, Toronto powered past Oakland 5-2 behind home runs from Jesus Sanchez, George Springer and Kazuma Okamoto. The Blue Jays received strong pitching from Eric Lauer (1-0), who allowed just two runs while fanning nine over 5 1/3 innings.

Kansas City salvaged the finale of their Atlanta series with a 4-1 victory, getting 6 1/3 scoreless innings from Seth Lugo (1-0). Bobby Witt Jr. extended his hitting streak to three games and delivered his first RBI of the season for the Royals.

Cincinnati erased a two-run deficit when Eugenio Suarez launched a three-run homer to lift the Reds over Boston 3-2 in their series rubber match. Rookie Sal Stewart continued his torrid start, collecting two more hits and raising his average to .700 through three games.

Texas claimed their series finale against Philadelphia 8-3, powered by home runs from Andrew McCutchen and Brandon Nimmo. MacKenzie Gore (1-0) impressed in his Rangers debut, allowing two runs over 5 1/3 innings after joining Texas in an offseason trade.

Baltimore rallied with three runs in the seventh inning to defeat Minnesota 8-6, taking two of three games in their season-opening series. Tyler O’Neill’s three-run blast and clutch hits from Pete Alonso, Adley Rutschman and Coby Mayo fueled the comeback.

Miami completed a stunning sweep of Colorado with rookie Owen Caissie’s walk-off two-run homer in the ninth, giving the Marlins a 4-3 victory. The win improved Miami to 3-0 for the first time since 2009.

Houston split their four-game set with Los Angeles after Isaac Paredes delivered a clutch two-out, two-strike double in the eighth inning to break a 6-6 tie and lead the Astros to a 9-7 triumph.

Pittsburgh avoided a season-opening sweep by edging New York 4-3 in 10 innings, with Ryan O’Hearn driving in the winning run with his second RBI single of the contest.

Tampa Bay exploded for 17 hits in an 11-7 victory over St. Louis, led by Yandy Diaz’s outstanding 5-for-6 performance with four RBIs. The Rays avoided being swept in the three-game series.

Washington took their series against Chicago behind home runs from Joey Wiemer and Keibert Ruiz in a 6-3 win. Wiemer’s hot start continued as he reached base safely in his first eight plate appearances as a National.

Milwaukee completed a three-game sweep of Chicago with a dramatic 9-7 comeback victory, overcoming a 7-2 deficit thanks to Christian Yelich’s three-run pinch-hit homer that capped a six-run eighth-inning rally.