Cleveland Guardians' Gabriel Arias makes an Automated Ball-Strike System challenge of a strike call that was upheld as Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh looks on during the eighth inning baseball game, Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

SEATTLE (AP) — Emerson Hancock threw six hitless innings and Brendan Donovan launched a three-run homer as Seattle beat Cleveland to earn a four-game split in their season-opening series.

Hancock (1-0), who won a spot in the Mariners’ rotation in large part because of an injury to Bryce Miller, set a career high with nine strikeouts. The only baserunners the 26-year-old right-hander allowed came when he walked José Ramírez in the first inning and hit CJ Kayfus with a fastball in the sixth.

It wasn’t until Guardians rookie Chase DeLauter lined a clean single to right field leading off the seventh against reliever Cooper Criswell that Seattle’s bid for a no-hitter ended. Daniel Schneemann also singled for the Guardians in the eighth.

Hancock joined Félix Hernández as the only Mariners pitchers to strike out nine or more in a hitless outing of at least six innings. Hernández did so when throwing a perfect game in 2012.

Cleveland starter Slade Cecconi (0-1) struggled to keep the Mariners’ offense at bay.