Vogt’s Reaction to Guardians’ Shutout by Mariners
A Challenging Start for the Cleveland Guardians
The beginning of a new season can be unpredictable, and for the Cleveland Guardians, it hasn’t been smooth sailing. Just one night after a thrilling extra-innings comeback victory, the team found itself on the wrong end of a shutout against the Seattle Mariners. On Sunday, March 29, the Guardians faced off against the Mariners in game four of the opening series of 2026. The Mariners’ offense was in full swing from the start, recording nine hits and drawing five walks while scoring eight runs. In contrast, the Guardians managed zero runs and only three times reached base.
Following the loss, manager Stephen Vogt addressed the media with a mix of frustration and understanding. He acknowledged that the Mariners’ pitchers, particularly starter Emerson Hancock, were performing exceptionally well. “We were just underneath the ball all day,” Vogt said. “It felt like, you know, he’s got a little bit of an upshot. It’s got some, maybe a weird, funky arm angle, but we just couldn’t get on top of his fastball. He was coming right after us.”
Hancock delivered a standout performance, pitching six innings without allowing a hit and issuing just one walk. He struck out nine batters, with the only walk coming to José Ramírez during a seven-pitch at-bat in the top of the first inning. After that, Hancock controlled the game and kept the Guardians from making any significant progress.
In addition to Hancock’s performance, the Mariners’ reliever Cooper Criswell also impressed. He pitched three innings, allowing two hits and striking out five batters. Despite the strong showing by the Mariners, the Guardians did manage to get a couple of hits. First-year outfielder Chase DeLauter and utility player Daniel Schneemann each recorded a hit.
While the Guardians didn’t finish the series as they had hoped, they still managed to win two games. Their bullpen has shown great depth, and DeLauter’s performance has been a bright spot for the offense. He has already hit four home runs in four games, marking one of the best starts to a professional career in recent memory.
Reflecting on the series, Vogt praised the team’s overall performance but emphasized the need for improvement. “Obviously, we would love to have won the series, but, you know, we walk away with a split to start the year,” he said. “We feel pretty good. We’re playing good baseball. You know, we had a couple of missed plays today, but outside of that, you know, I feel like we’re playing really good baseball these first four games. We just got to keep it rolling.”
Looking ahead, the Guardians face a tough challenge as they prepare to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have won the last two World Series titles. The Dodgers are currently undefeated at 3-0 and will host the Guardians. “You know, we get to go to LA and see where we’re at… while you want to win 3 out of 4 here for sure, walking away with a split,” Vogt said. “I’m really proud of the way our guys have come out of the shoot.”
The upcoming series against the Dodgers will provide the Guardians with an early opportunity to gauge their level of success in 2026. It will also highlight areas where the team needs to improve. As the season progresses, the Guardians will need to find their rhythm and build on the momentum they’ve shown so far.
