NEW YORK — Derek Jeter jogged nonchalantly down the left field line with the ball in his glove, thinking the play was over.
For a star with a resume full of memorable moments, he then nearly made a blunder worthy of a blooper reel.
MORE: Derek Jeter through the years, in photos
Jeter's rare mental mistake helped give Kyle Seager his second triple Monday night to go along with a homer and a double in the Seattle Mariners' 10-2 victory over the New York Yankees.
"I almost gave it to a fan," Jeter said. "I thought for sure the ball was foul because I was in foul territory."
The play that confused the Yankees captain came in the fourth inning, when Seager hit a blooper down the line that bounced off the glove of sliding left fielder Brett Gardner. Jeter was also giving chase and had a chance to make the catch off the deflection, but couldn't come up with it.
With his back to third base umpire Brian Gorman, Jeter did not see the fair signal. When he corralled the ball in foul ground, he took several more steps toward the corner. He looked surprised when he turned, and his throw to third was too late.
"It was a weird play," Seager said. "I basically just kept running."
Yankees starter David Phelps (1-3) hollered "throw the ball!" as Seager headed to third. After the play was over, Jeter could be seen on television saying "I thought it was foul" as he walked back to the infield.
"My emotions got the best of me," Phelps said. "I was trying to scream at him to get his attention, hoping he didn't throw the ball into the stands."
Seager became the first major leaguer to hit two triples and at least one homer and one double since Hal Breeden for Montreal in 1973, STATS said. The last AL player to do it was Hoot Evers for Detroit in 1950.
"That's definitely a special one," Seager said. "That's definitely one I'll remember, for sure."