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Seattle Mariners squander 14 strikeouts from Emerson Hancock in 3-2 loss to Royals in 10 innings

By Shane Lantz
Published  May 2, 2026 10:12pm PDT
Seattle Mariners
Associated Press
article

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 02: Emerson Hancock #26 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the third inning against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park on May 02, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.  (Olivia Vannig / Getty Images)

The Brief

    • The Royals overcame a dominant 14-strikeout performance from Seattle starter Emerson Hancock to beat the Mariners 3-2 on Saturday night on Maikel Garcia's sacrifice fly in the 10th inning.
    • The 14 strikeouts are a new career-high for Hancock, who allowed one run on six hits with no walks over seven innings.
    • Catcher Cal Raleigh was a late scratch for the Mariners due to "general soreness," according to manager Dan Wilson. Raleigh is considered day-to-day, but he was sent to get medical imaging. Jhonny Pereda was called up from Triple-A Tacoma to backup Mitch Garver.

SEATTLE - Michael Massey scored on Maikel Garcia's sacrifice fly in the 10th inning, and the Kansas City Royals overcame a dominant 14-strikeout performance from Seattle starter Emerson Hancock to beat the Mariners 3-2 on Saturday night.

Massey began the inning as the automatic runner at second base, stole third, and then scored on Garcia’s flyball to center field off Cooper Criswell (1-1).

The Royals tied the game in the ninth against Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz, as Salvador Perez led off with a single. Pinch-runner Lane Thomas advanced to second on a balk, and scored on Jac Caglianone's single to center that got by Julio Rodriguez and went all the way to the wall.

The Mariners scored first when Josh Naylor drove Rodriguez home with an RBI single in the first, but the Royals tied it with back-to-back doubles from Kyle Isbel and Garcia in the third.

That was the only run the Royals got against Hancock, who allowed six hits and no walks over seven innings while setting a new career high in strikeouts. It was a dominant performance on a night the Mariners retired the number of arguably the most dominant pitcher in franchise history, Randy Johnson.

Leo Rivas gave the Mariners a 2-1 lead when he scored from third on a wild pitch by Seth Lugo in the fifth.

Lugo allowed seven hits and two walks over six innings, with six strikeouts. Luinder Avila pitched two scoreless innings of relief for the Royals.

Lucas Erceg retired the side in the 10th for his ninth save. Matt Strahm (1-0) got the win.

Up next

RHP Luis Castillo (0-2, 6.35 ERA) pitches Sunday for Seattle, against Royals LHP Kris Bubic (2-1, 3.74 ERA).

The Source: Information in this story came from The Associated Press.

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