The Mariners wasted no time getting started for the season opener after Ty Smolinski ripped a triple down the first base line, later scoring after Julio Solier brought him home.
The Mariners kept their momentum into the top of the second inning after JP Peltier drew a walk and later became the first Mariner to steal a base in 2026. Conner Capece then laced a ball to left-center for his first RBI on the season.
Bittersweet ending for Williford's impressive start
Trey Williford got the nod from head coach Steve Englert to start the season. The CAA Rookie of the Year wasted no time showing off his dominant skills. The lefty cannon struck out the first three Red Sox with his fastball.
The Red Sox would respond in the bottom of the second after a sequence of great baserunning from John Beverly. The speedy sophomore from Georgia State would steal every base, scoring the first run for the Red Sox.
Williford responded by continuing his strikeout barrage, retiring the next two batters. Williford's off-speed pitches really showed after making Red Sox batters look confused with his impressive curveball.
Williford's day would end after giving up a grand slam to KJ Scobey. Williford ended the day with 3 1/3 innings, seven strikeouts, and four earned runs.
"You can be dominant, dominant, dominant, and then make one little mistake," said Englert.
Red Sox bullpen excels
After Conner Hamilton gave up two runs early, Scott Pickler, the Red Sox field manager, turned to his impressive bullpen. Clemson's Danny Nelson and UC Irvine's Peyton Rodgers came in and made their names known, giving Mariners hitter problems for the middle innings. The impressive duo went on to pitch 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball.
Smolinski summer?
Ty Smolinski had himself a day for the Mariners. The skilled second baseman went 2 for 4 (triple and home run) with two RBIs. Coach Englert knows he got a good one.
"He's a baseball player. That's why I put him in that captain role. He's a baseball player," said Englert.
It wasn't just on offense that Smolinski showed out.Ty would go on to convert a sensational putout in the bottom of the sixth after flipping the ball behind his back to shortstop Julio Solier, where Solier would fire it to Coats for an early contender for defensive play of the year. Smolinski and Solier have history playing with each other last summer.
"He started saying, 'Yeah, yeah, yeah,' as soon as he was set up in the middle, so we kind of knew right away that that was the play there," said Smolinski.
Hometown kid shows out
Brady Miller, the Harwich native, was able to get his first appearance with his hometown team in the bottom of the eighth. Miller seized his moment coming in and striking out the side. Being the hometown guy, Miller must be more than pleased with his introduction to the league.
Late Mariner rally
Despite being down six runs going into the final frame, the Mariners showed a bunch of fight. Ryan Gerety got things started, drawing his second walk of the game. Smolinski would then hit a moonshot to right-center field to put the Mariners within two. Solier would keep the momentum going, reaching on a walk, later being driven home on a Sean O’Leary RBI single.
Y-D ended up pitching three different players in the final inning to spoil the Mariners’ comeback.
What's Next?
Coach Englert isn't too worried about the opener loss explaining that development doesn't come overnight.
"If you can get a tick better every single day, by the end of the summer, you go back to your school a pretty unique player," said Englert.
The Mariners will travel to Bourne tomorrow to conclude their opening road trip at Doran Park. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
