With their chances for the playoffs slipping away, the Seattle Mariners experienced a tough new way to lose. A flying bat, a brief lapse in focus, and a strange double play marked the game.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before in a game. Just a strange situation,” Seattle manager Dan Wilson said.
The Mariners lost to the New York Yankees 2-1 in 10 innings on Wednesday night, but it was the unusual events in the bottom of the 10th that will be remembered as another tough moment in a challenging season.
With runners on first and third, Julio Rodríguez got caught off third base after dodging a bat that flew out of Randy Arozarena’s hands when he swung and missed.
“I’ve asked a few guys and all of them said, ‘I’ve never seen that on a baseball field,’” Rodríguez said.
Seattle was behind 2-1 when Cal Raleigh’s hit at the start of the 10th moved Rodríguez, the automatic runner, from second to third. Ian Hamilton struck out Arozarena with a 2-2 slider, and Arozarena’s bat went flying.
Right towards Rodríguez’s head. “Honestly, I saw the bat flying right up to my face,” Rodríguez said.
As the bat flew behind third base, Seattle’s young star quickly moved out of the way into foul territory, taking a moment to collect himself.
But the play was still live, and catcher Austin Wells made a fast throw to third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., catching Rodríguez before he could return to the base.
Rodríguez thought the play was over because the bat had gone flying.
“After I saw the bat, I thought it was going to be a dead play, and then they were going to pick up the bat and I was going to go back to third. I got away and turned my back to the field and I heard (third base coach) Manny (Acta) yelling, ‘Get back to third.’ That’s when I got back to third,” Rodríguez explained.
