Guardians Drop Home Opener to Mariners

Cleveland- The Guardians hosted the Mariners Friday afternoon’s home opener. It was a day full of festivities. Ahead of the game, the team honored “Tribe Drummer” John Adams. The super fan passed away at the beginning of this year. He was famous with fans and the team for bringing his drum to the park for decades. The team wore a patch to honor him on their uniforms and his initials “J.A.” were behind home plate.

Slider, the team mascot, beat the drum in Adams seat bringing that rhythmic sound to the sold out crowd.

A moment to remember from the Home Opener; Slider honors John Adams.

Story: https://t.co/2YKuUBdSNc pic.twitter.com/cm2rflbXn6

— News 5 Cleveland (@WEWS) April 7, 2023

Cleveland native and Kansas City Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Kelce spiked it in front of the plate sending Shane Bieber running from behind the plate.

Travis Kelce, Dirty First Pitch. 😨

54" inches of drop…and nearly kills Shane Bieber. 😂 pic.twitter.com/fWjiQgcbb6

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 7, 2023

Aaron Civale was on the hill for the Guardians making his second start of the season. He allowed four runs on nine hits over 5.2 innings.

Rookie, Tim Herrin, came in relief of Civale and fanned three batters over 1.2 innings. Herrin becomes the first pitcher in club history with 9-or more strikeouts in his first 4.1 innings.

The Guardians struck first and maintained a 3-0 lead going into the fifth. Myles Straw has hit safely in each of the last seven games. He joined Josh Bell and Jose Ramirez with an RBI a piece for Cleveland.

Seattle’s bats came alive in the fifth with J.P. Crawford and Ty France each chipping in a RBI. Julio Rodriguez would knock out a 3-run blast in the sixth which put the Mariners up 5-3.

Rodriguez’s homer would be the final scoring for either team causing Cleveland to drop their third consecutive home opener.

Saturday’s contest against Seattle has a 6:10 first pitch.