Mariners Blanked by Max Fried, Yankees in Game Two of the Series
By Jeffrey Nooney
Seattle, WA - The Seattle Mariners’ offense fell flat in game two of this three-game home series against the New York Yankees, losing 5-0 tonight to set up a rubber match tomorrow. While the final score showed just a five-run deficit for Seattle, the Mariners’ general inability to come within striking distance and the dominance of Yankees pitching made it feel like a bigger defeat. Seattle’s offense just couldn’t get going against one of the best pitchers in baseball, Max Fried. The New York left-hander tossed seven shutout innings, while only allowing three hits, one walk, and striking out six. Fried finished fourth in the American League Cy Young voting last season, and he is looking in mid-season form already in 2026, at the expense of the Mariners’ lineup.
New York Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried delivered seven shutout innings against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday, March 31st, 2026, at T-Mobile Park. (Photos by Andy Glass for Circling Seattle Sports)
The Yankees got off to a hot start in the top of the first inning, scoring two runs off Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert. All of the damage was done with two outs. Cody Bellinger singled and scored on an RBI double from Ben Rice. Giancarlo Stanton drove in Rice with a single, giving New York a lead that they’d never look back from.
New York designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton is off to a blistering start in 2026. Through his first six games, he has collected two hits in each game. For a guy who supposedly couldn’t open a bag of chips at the beginning of spring training due to injury, he is looking like vintage Giancarlo Stanton right now, which is a big boost to the Yankees’ lineup and will be a problem for American League opponents all season long.
New York tacked three more runs on in the top of the sixth inning. Yankees center fielder Trent Grisham led the inning off with a ground-rule double, and Cody Bellinger singled and stole second base. On the steal, Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh threw the ball into center field, attempting to throw Bellinger out, scoring Grisham. Stanton struck again with an RBI double, followed by a Jazz Chisholm Jr. RBI single, ballooning the lead to five for New York and leaving Seattle trying to climb up an even bigger hill.
“Obviously he’s really tough and I thought we had some good at-bats against him, [some contributors] really up and down…we’re not hitting the long ball much as a group right now but the tack on runs to push the lead was really nice.”
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert struggled in his outing against the New York Yankees on Tuesday, March 31st, 2026, at T-Mobile Park. (Photos by Andy Glass for Circling Seattle Sports)
The story of the night for most Mariners fans was starting pitcher Logan Gilbert. As he has throughout his career against the Yankees, Gilbert struggled to put hitters away, and came unraveled again in the sixth inning, just like he did on Opening Day against the Cleveland Guardians. His final line tonight was five and a third innings, seven hits, five runs (all earned), walking three and striking out six. Gilbert’s record now falls to 0-1, with his ERA pumping up to 6.75 through his first two starts of the 2026 campaign. Logan has struggled to put hitters away efficiently early on, and the run suppression isn’t there right now, but you have to believe someone who tinkers with his pitches as much as Gilbert can find a way out of the slump.
“I thought he (Logan Gilbert) gave us a chance to get into the game later, and we just weren’t able to jump in it offensively. I think he had some good splits; we saw that, and I think his fastballs had some good velocity. The cutter was a decent pitch for him tonight, too. So, you know, he showed good stuff.”
The offensive side of things didn’t do much to support Gilbert in tonight’s loss, getting blanked while only racking up four baserunners in the contest. The middle of Seattle’s lineup continues to struggle to begin the 2026 season. Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez, and Josh Naylor have combined for just five hits this season. Naylor ended a 0-20 streak with a parachute single in the bottom of the fourth inning. Julio got his second hit of the season with an infield single in the seventh inning. Even with struggles from the big hitters, the Mariners are 3-3 to start the year and have seen very strong production from the bottom of the lineup, which is a big positive if they can keep that up to some extent throughout the year.
Pregame sights ahead of game two of three between the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners on Tuesday, March 31st, 2026, at T-Mobile Park. (Photos by Andy Glass for Circling Seattle Sports)
Quick notes and stats from Mariners PR
The Mariners were shut out 5-0 by the Yankees, marking their first shutout loss of the season.
Josh Naylor recorded his first hit of the season, a single in the 4th inning.
Julio Rodriguez singled in the 7th inning, breaking Fried’s 1-hit bid.
Randy Arozarena was hit by a pitch in the 7th inning (Fried), marking his 99th career hit-by-pitch…his 99 HBP since his debut in 2019 are 6th-most in MLB, trailing Pete Alonso (100), Anthony Rizzo (104), Wilson Contreras (110), Mark Canha (116) and Ty France (126).
Brendan Donovan singled in the 7th inning and has reached base safely in all six games to start the season (3/26-c), batting .428 (9x21) with 4 runs scored, 1 double, 2 home runs, 4 RBI and 3 walks across the stretch.
Starter Logan Gilbert tossed 5.1 innings, allowing 5 runs (5 ER) on 7 walks and 3 walks while throwing 6 strikeouts…he threw 95 pitches (54 strikes) in his second start of the season.
The Mariners bullpen (Cole Wilcox and Casey Legumina) combined for 3.2 scoreless innings of relief, allowing 2 hits while striking out 4 batters.
Wilcox took over for Gilbert in the 6th inning and threw 2.0 scoreless innings of relief with 2 hits allowed and 3 strikeouts in his third career appearance and second of the season…it marked his first career multi-inning relief appearance.
Legumina has thrown 4 strikeouts and has not allowed a run across 3 relief appearances (3.2 IP) this season.
Cal Raleigh threw down Cody Bellinger, who was caught stealing in the 3rd inning…marked Raleigh’s first base runner caught stealing of the season and his first since Sept. 26, 2025, vs. the Dodgers.
What’s next?
The Seattle Mariners finish their three-game series and their opening homestand of the 2026 season with the New York Yankees tomorrow at 1:10 PM PDT. George Kirby will take the hill for Seattle, while young righty Cam Schlittler will start for New York. Offense hasn’t come easily for the Mariners in this series, and that may continue in tomorrow’s rubber match (Which will be broadcast on Mariners.TV and go over the radio airwaves on Seattle Sports (710 AM)) against Schlitter, who fanned eight and threw five and a third scoreless innings in his season debut back on March 27th at the San Francisco Giants.
The Mariners get their first off day of the season on Thursday before beginning their first road trip of the season with a three-game series down in Anaheim to take on the Angels.
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