Yankees' bats quieted by Mariners in season's first loss after Cal Raleigh's walk-off single

New York's pitching staff held the Mariners in check for most of the game, but the bullpen couldn't finish the job in the ninth inning.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 5:03am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball game, with overlapping planes of color representing the action on the field.A cubist interpretation of the dramatic final moments of the Yankees-Mariners game, with the winning run scoring on a walk-off single.Seattle Today

The New York Yankees suffered their first loss of the season, falling 2-1 to the Seattle Mariners on a walk-off single by catcher Cal Raleigh in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Yankees' pitching staff, led by starter Ryan Weathers, had largely shut down the Mariners' offense, but the bullpen couldn't hold the lead in the final frame.

Why it matters

The Yankees came into the game undefeated, having shut down the Giants and Mariners in their first few games. This loss shows that even the Yankees' vaunted pitching staff can be vulnerable, and that the team will need to find ways to generate more offense to avoid these types of close losses as the season progresses.

The details

After Weathers gave up one run in 4 1/3 innings, the Yankees' bullpen kept the Mariners scoreless for 3 2/3 innings before Raleigh's walk-off hit against Paul Blackburn in the ninth. The Yankees' bats were largely held in check by Mariners starter Luis Castillo, managing just two hits through six innings, before tying the game in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Amed Rosario.

  • The game took place on March 30, 2026 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
  • The Yankees had won their first three games of the season before this loss.

The players

Ryan Weathers

The Yankees' starting pitcher, who struck out seven batters in 4 1/3 innings of work.

Cal Raleigh

The Mariners' catcher, who delivered the game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Luis Castillo

The Mariners' starting pitcher, who held the Yankees' bats in check for six innings.

Paul Blackburn

The Yankees' reliever who gave up the walk-off hit to Raleigh in the ninth inning.

Amed Rosario

The Yankees' pinch hitter who drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning.

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What they’re saying

“We must find a way to generate more offense against tough pitching like we saw tonight. This loss shows we can't rely solely on our pitching staff to carry us every game.”

— Aaron Boone, Yankees Manager

What’s next

The Yankees will look to bounce back in the series finale against the Mariners on April 1st.

The takeaway

This close loss to the Mariners serves as a wake-up call for the Yankees, who will need to find more consistent production from their lineup to complement their strong pitching if they want to maintain their early-season success.