The Seattle Mariners' slim playoff hopes took another hit Wednesday during a 2-1 loss in extras to the New York Yankees. But this time, the Mariners found a unique way to lose a game that you likely have never seen before.
In the top of the 10th, Anthony Rizzo drove home the eventual winning run. But it was in the bottom half that left Mariners manager Dan Wilson scratching his head.
The Mariners had men on the corners with no outs. Julio Rodriguez was leading off of third when Randy Arozarena struck out. Unfortunately, his bat left his hands and went flying towards Rodriguez. In an attempt to avoid the bat, Rodriguez was picked off of third for a double play, all but killing the rally.
"I don't think I've ever seen that before in a game. Just a strange situation," Wilson said after the game.
He was not the only one.
"I've asked a few guys, and all of them said, 'I've never seen that on a baseball field,'" Rodríguez said afterward.
"Honestly, I saw the bat flying right up to my face," said Rodriguez.
"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," Rodríguez said. "I got away and turned my back to the field, and I heard [third base coach] Manny [Acta] yelling, 'Get back to third.'
"Honestly, at that moment, I wasn't really thinking about the game, just trying to get away from the bat coming at me."
Moments later, Justin Turner struck out to end the game.
This game was a microcosm of the Mariners' season. Just when things look promising, they crumble. Earlier this season, Seattle blew a 10-game division lead in only 24 games. That is the least amount of games a team has blown a double-digit division lead since 1969, per Elias Sports Bureau.
Seattle is currently three games back of the Minnesota Twins for the final wild-card spot. They will look to avoid the sweep against the Yankees on Thursday before closing with nine divisional games.
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