SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners didn't begin the 2026 season how they would've wanted.

The Mariners fell 6-4 to the Cleveland Guardians on Opening Day on Thursday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

The M's fell to 0-1 with the loss and dropped the first of a four-game series against the visiting Guardians.

Despite the overall result, Seattle designated hitter Dominic Canzone had a solid performance and earned a part of franchise history in the process.

Canzone, who was the Mariners' designated hitter and batted seventh, went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Both of his hits were solo home runs. The first, which came in the bottom of the second inning, traveled 418 feet.

The second of Canzone's homers was more well-struck and went a distance of 444 feet.

"(I was looking for) heaters down the middle," Canzone said in a postgame interview Thursday. "They were in the honey hole, kind of down and in, so we were able to get to them."

Canzone's two-homer day made him the fourth player in Mariners history with multiple home runs on Opening Day. The last player to accomplish that feat was Richie Sexson against the Minnesota Twins on April 4, 2005.

Beyond joining a very exclusive list, Canzone's day also was an indication that his stellar 2025 was a sign of things to come rather than an aberration.

Canzone had by far his best year as a major leaguer last season. He slashed .300/.358/.481 with an .839 OPS in 82 games. He hit 11 doubles and 11 homers with 32 RBIs.

The highest OPS Canzone had had in a single year before '25 was a .657 mark with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle in 2023.

Canzone briefly left the team during spring training to compete for Italy in the World Baseball Classic. The Italians made it to the semifinal round of the WBC.

The competitive nature of the international tournament helped keep Canzone sharp entering this season.

"I think it helped a lot," Canzone said. "All the WBC guys it helped a lot getting ready for Opening Day and the environment of it. WBC really is kind of like playoff baseball. Spring training is almost kind of, (for a) lack of a better word, like scrimmages. It definitely helped me a lot, just getting that atmosphere again and some games that really mean something."

Canzone is one of several players on the 26-man roster, along with Luke Raley (who started Thursday), Victor Robles and Rob Refsnyder, who are capable of playing right field.

Right field and designated hitter will likely remain fluid as the season progresses. But if Thursday is an indication of the kind of season Canzone will have, he might carve out a regular role for himself at the team's DH.

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