M’s Fall to Yankees: Bat Blunder and Base Gaffe End Rally

SEATTLE — As the Seattle Mariners’ playoff hopes dim, they faced a shocking new way to lose a game.

A bat flew through the air, a brief lapse in awareness occurred, leading to an unusual double play that left many bewildered.

“I honestly can’t say I’ve seen anything like that on a baseball field,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson remarked after the game.

The Mariners were edged by the New York Yankees, falling 2-1 in a tense 10-inning game, but the events of the final inning will be etched in their memory as another troubling chapter in a difficult season.

With runners stationed on first and third bases, Julio Rodríguez was unexpectedly picked off third after dodging a bat that flew out of Randy Arozarena’s hands as he struck out swinging.

“I’ve spoken to a few players, and they’ve all said the same thing: they’ve never witnessed anything like that in a game,” Rodríguez shared.

Entering the 10th with a 2-1 deficit, Cal Raleigh’s single advanced Rodríguez, who was the automatic runner on second base, to third. Facing a two-strike count, Ian Hamilton struck out Arozarena, whose bat soared dangerously toward Rodríguez’s head.

“Honestly, when I saw that bat coming toward me, it was alarming,” Rodríguez admitted.

In a moment of confusion, the young star ducked into foul territory to avoid the flying bat. However, the play was still active, and catcher Austin Wells quickly threw the ball to third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., catching Rodríguez off guard and picking him off before he could return to the base.

Rodríguez believed the play was halted due to the bat incident. “After seeing the bat, I thought everything would stop and they’d retrieve it, allowing me to return to third. I turned my back to the field and heard [third base coach] Manny [Acta] shouting, ‘Get back to third!’ That’s when I realized I needed to return,” he explained. “It was a new experience for me.”

Following this unusual play, Hamilton sealed the Yankees’ victory by striking out Justin Turner, ensuring a playoff position for New York.

This miscue by Rodríguez happened just one night after Victor Robles made a questionable attempt to steal home in the first inning against the Yankees, an attempt that was unsuccessful. The result contributed to a straightforward victory for the Yankees as they took advantage of the situation.

This particular loss stung more for the Mariners as both Houston and Minnesota lost earlier, handing Seattle an opportunity to close the gap in the AL West standings and wild-card chase. Currently, the Mariners find themselves five games behind the division-leading Astros and three games off the pace for the final AL wild-card spot.

“Everything unfolded very quickly; it was a reactionary moment,” Wilson said reflectively. “I’m sure everyone would have ducked for cover in that scenario. It’s just unfortunate that it concluded in this manner.”