Emerson Hancock gives up to back-to-back jacks, A’s smack Mariners with 6-4 loss

Apr 20, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Emerson Hancock (26) walks to the dugout following a sixth inning pitching change against the Athletics at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images | Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images The heart of the Mariners showed up early, but the heart of the A’s order showed up late. The Mariners lost 6-4 in Monday’s series opener against the Athletics.

Emerson Hancock continued to look like the new-and-improved version of himself, but he also threw a few bad pitches and was eventually burned. Cal Raleigh and Dominic Canzone each homered, and Julio Rodríguez and Josh Naylor combined for five hits. But the Mariners ultimately could not overcome a 13-hit day for the Athletics.

Hancock entered the day as perhaps the story of the early season. Through four starts, he had a 2. 75 FIP, 24.

2% walk rate, and a top 20 WAR among qualified starting pitchers. It’s been a pleasant surprise for the Mariners, who have been desperate for some depth beyond their top-five starters. In fact, Hancock so far in 2026 has looked like much more than depth.