 was given an early jolt from Cruz, who picked up where 2017 left off. After hitting 39 home runs last year, Cruz hit the first pitch he saw from Corey Kluber (0-1) over the center field fence for an early 2-0 lead. The 88 mph cutter stayed in the middle of the plate, and Cruz didn't miss.That was all Seattle would get against Kluber, who pitched eight innings and allowed six hits. Following Hernandez, the Mariners used five relievers. Edwin Diaz hit two batters in the ninth and let pinch-runner Rajai Davis reach third with one out. But Diaz struck out Yan Gomes and Tyler Naquin to close out the save.Ichiro Suzuki played left field and went 0 for 2 in his first game with Seattle since being traded to the New York Yankees in 2012. Ichiro signed as a free agent with the Mariners this month, reuniting him with the club where he played his first 12 seasons. The Japanese star was greeted by huge cheers during player introductions and prior to his first at-bat.Seattle has asked Hernandez not to be afraid of contact. He's no longer the strikeout pitcher of his younger years, when his fastball regularly clocked in the mid-to-upper 90s. Location and smarts are keys now.For at least one outing, it looked like the changes are taking hold.Hernandez allowed singles to Jason Kipnis in the third inning and Edwin Encarnacion in the fourth, but most of the contact made was weak and easy outs. He even quick-pitched Bradley Zimmer for a strikeout ending the fifth inning.Hernandez walked Kipnis on four pitches with one out in the sixth, ending his night at 83 pitches. Dan Altavilla got Jose Ramirez to ground into a double play, and the Mariners were through the sixth without allowing a run.Cleveland got its only run in the seventh after Lonnie Chisenhall doubled with two outs and Gomes' flair to center field dropped in front of Dee Gordon. It was the only time Seattle allowed a runner past second base.HONORING TITODuring the pregame ceremony the Mariners included Tito Francona - father of Cleveland manager Terry Francona - among those with ties to baseball that passed away since the end of last season. Terry Francona appeared moved by the gesture, and Francisco Lindor put his arm around his manager during the moment of silence.TRAINER'S ROOMIndians: OF Michael Brantley was placed on the 10-day disabled list as Cleveland finalized its roster, but he is progressing in his rehab from right ankle surgery. Brantley was scheduled to only play seven innings in his last spring training stint with Triple-A Columbus but played all nine because he was feeling so good.Mariners: C Mike Zunino was a late scratch for the opener due to stiffness in his right side. Zunino felt the stiffness develop after his final swing of batting practice during Wednesday's workout. ... RHPs Hisashi Iwakuma (shoulder surgery) and Erasmo Ramirez (lat strain) both threw bullpens Thursday as they continue recovery from their injuries.UP NEXTIndians: Cleveland will send Carlos Carrasco to the mound on Saturday. Carrasco won his final six decisions of the 2017 regular season as part of an 18-win season.Mariners: Seattle will have lefty James Paxton on the mound. Paxton was 12-5 with a 2.98 ERA in 2017.---For more baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball)
Kluber-Hernandez duel highlights Indians-Mariners opener 4h ago• 3 min read SEATTLE -- In 2014, Corey Kluber edged Felix Hernandez for the American League's Cy Young Award.Since then, the careers of the two 31-year-old right-handers have taken different paths. That was strikingly evident last year, when Cleveland's Kluber earned his second Cy Young while Hernandez, the longtime Seattle ace, battled injuries and pitched fewer than 100 innings.They'll face off again Thursday, when the Mariners host the Indians to open the season.There was little doubt Kluber would start after going 18-4 last year with a major league-leading 2.25 ERA."I just told him in the first one-on-one (meeting of the spring)," Indians manager Terry Francona told MLB.com. "I just said, 'Hey, get ready for Opening Day.' I think he kind of knows."I think when you've got a guy who's won the Cy Young a couple of times, and the way he works, it's an easy choice." That wasn't necessarily the case for Mariners manager Scott Servais. Left-hander James Paxton turned into the team's No. 1 starter last season in Hernandez's absence. And King Felix was limited to five innings this spring after being hit in his right forearm by a line drive in his first start."Looking at the big picture here, it's not about one game," Servais told The Seattle Times. "Our season is 162 (games) and Felix has earned the right. He is healthy, he's had a good spring training other than the fact he hasn't thrown a lot of innings. Everything else we have asked him to do has been off the charts and I am excited to get him out there." This will be Hernandez's 11th Opening Day start and his 10th straight. The only pitchers in baseball history with streaks longer than 10 are Jack Morris (14), Robin Roberts (12) and Tom Seaver (12)."It's an honor. Ten straight with one team," Hernandez said after learning the news Sunday. "It's really, really, really an honor for me. You are starting a new season and they are giving the ball to me and I appreciate that." The list of those who have made more Opening Day starts overall could fill a wing at the Hall of Fame. They are: Seaver (16), Steve Carlton (14), Randy Johnson (14), Walter Johnson (14), Morris (14), Roger Clemens (13), Roberts (13), Grover Cleveland Alexander (12) and Bert Blyleven (12). Hernandez is tied with Ferguson Jenkins, Dennis Martinez and C. C. Sabathia with 11."That means it's pretty good, no?" Hernandez said. "To be there with all those guys, it's an honor." He'll face a tough task against an Indians team that won 102 games last season, including a league-record 22-game winning streak, and won the AL Central for the second consecutive season. Cleveland fell just short of winning the 2016 World Series before an early playoff exit last year."I think talent-wise and experience-wise, we match up with anybody," Indians reliever Andrew Miller told MLB.com. "It's a long road, but I think the expectation and the goal here is to try to get back to the (World Series) and win the last game of the year." Hernandez, who won the AL Cy Young in 2010, is 7-6 with a 2.95 ERA in 16 career starts against the Indians. He's got a 6-2 record on Opening Day."We all know Felix is an adrenaline guy and he gets fired up when the house is full of fans and he feeds off it," said Servais, who admitted Hernandez would likely be on a pitch count of 80-85 because of his limited action this spring. "He'll handle it. But he is deserving of it and his track record speaks for itself." Kluber is 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA in four career starts against the Mariners, who went 78-84 last season.
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