3/27/26 — Guardians vs Mariners
Our first game of the season.
The night after Opening Day, we made our way into T-Mobile Park and sat second row in the JRod Squad. At the time, I had no idea this section would become such an anchoring point for our Mariners season. Leo loves Julio; he also loves the possibility of catching a ball tossed into the crowd between innings by his baseball hero.
No Julio toss-up this time, but a kind man seated in front of us handed Leo a ball. Truthfully, it was the first MLB ball I had ever held too.
After giving up a first inning homer to Chase DeLauter, Kirby settled in and looked like himself again. Leo and I saw several Kirby gems last season, so it already felt like a continuation of a familiar tradition—with perhaps just a bit of rust to shed. He finished with 6 strikeouts over 6 innings.
Cole Young gave us one of the biggest moments of the night. First, a diving catch in the 1st inning to rob José Ramírez. Later, his first homer of the season, a 3-run shot to right field.
Leo loved watching Young during his debut last year, even after he eventually lost playing time to Polanco’s steadier bat. Now, a few weeks into this season, we both find ourselves checking Young’s box scores constantly, hoping to see continued signs of a breakout. That early-season habit of trying to read the future in a small sample size, looking for who we are going to be this year.
Despite the Mariners leading comfortably, Muñoz still entered late. The flames from his entrance cut through the cold as he came jogging in from the bullpen.
A really good first game for me and Leo.
Final: Mariners 5, Guardians 1
Seats: JRod Squad, Row 2
Memory: First MLB ball either of us had really held