Cal Raleigh's walk-off single lifts Mariners past Yankees

Seattle wins series opener 2-1 in dramatic fashion

Mar. 31, 2026 at 5:23am

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Cal Raleigh's walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Seattle Mariners a 2-1 victory over the visiting New York Yankees in the opener of their three-game series on Monday night. Mariners starter Luis Castillo pitched six scoreless innings, striking out seven, while Yankees starter Ryan Weathers allowed one run over 4.1 innings in his debut for the team.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Mariners in the hunt for a playoff spot in the competitive American League West, while the loss is a tough one for the Yankees as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season.

The details

With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Leo Rivas led off with a single and Brendan Donovan followed with another hit to put runners on the corners. Raleigh then delivered the game-winning hit, lining a single down the right field line to score Rivas and give the Mariners the victory. Earlier, the Mariners had taken a 1-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI single by Cole Young, but the Yankees tied it in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Amed Rosario.

  • The game was played on Monday, March 31, 2026.
  • Castillo recorded his 1,500th career strikeout in the sixth inning.

The players

Cal Raleigh

The Mariners' catcher who delivered the walk-off single in the ninth inning.

Luis Castillo

The Mariners' starting pitcher who threw six scoreless innings, striking out seven.

Ryan Weathers

The Yankees' starting pitcher, making his debut for the team after being acquired in an offseason trade.

Amed Rosario

The Yankees' pinch-hitter who hit the sacrifice fly to tie the game in the seventh inning.

Leo Rivas

The Mariners' leadoff hitter who started the winning rally in the ninth inning with a single.

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What they’re saying

“That was a huge win for us to start the series. Cal came up big in the clutch, and Luis set the tone early with his dominant outing.”

— Scott Servais, Mariners Manager

What’s next

The Mariners and Yankees will continue their three-game series on Tuesday night, with the Mariners looking to build on this dramatic win and the Yankees hoping to even the series.

The takeaway

This back-and-forth game showcased the talent and competitiveness of both the Mariners and Yankees, two teams with playoff aspirations this season. The Mariners' ability to rally late and get the walk-off win could provide a big boost of momentum as they try to secure a postseason berth.