Seattle right-hander Emerson Hancock delivered a masterful performance, pitching six hitless innings as the Mariners cruised to an 8-0 victory over the visiting Cleveland Guardians on Sunday.

Brendan Donovan provided the offensive spark with a three-run homer, helping Seattle split the season-opening, four-game series.

Hancock, starting in place of the injured Bryce Miller (oblique), struck out a career-high nine, walked one, and hit a batter. Remarkably, he didn’t allow a ball to leave the infield. The closest Cleveland came to a hit was in the third inning when No. 9 hitter Brayan Rocchio hit a grounder that bounced off first base. Josh Naylor fielded the carom and easily retired Rocchio.

The Mariners’ no-hit bid ended in the seventh inning when Cleveland’s Chase DeLauter singled to right field off reliever Cooper Criswell. Daniel Schneemann added another hit in the eighth, the Guardians’ only other hit of the game. Criswell pitched three scoreless innings with five strikeouts, allowing two hits and no walks to earn the save.

Seattle opened the scoring in the fourth inning against right-hander Slade Cecconi (0-1). With two outs, Dominic Canzone doubled down the left-field line. A wild pitch and a walk to Cole Young set the stage for No. 9 hitter Leo Rivas, who drove in a run with a single to right. Donovan then launched a 1-1 fastball over the right-field fence for a three-run homer, giving Seattle a 4-0 lead.

The Mariners added two more runs in the fifth inning. Julio Rodriguez walked and scored on Randy Arozarena’s one-out double. Luke Raley followed with a run-scoring single to right, forcing Cecconi from the game.

Seattle continued their attack in the sixth against right-hander Peyton Pallette. Donovan singled to right and moved to second on a wild pitch. Cal Raleigh then hit a ground-rule double down the left-field line, recording his first extra-base hit and RBI of the season.

The Mariners scored their final run in the eighth inning as Rodriguez reached on a two-out error, advanced on a Naylor walk, and scored on Arozarena’s single to left.

Cecconi allowed six runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out five.

-Field Level Media/Reuters