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Julio Rodriguez’s Unbelievable Base-Running Gaff Leads To Mariners Extra-Inning Loss To Yankees

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The New York Yankees secured a playoff berth on Wednesday night thanks to a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners in 10 innings, and they have Mariners superstar Julio Rodriguez to thank.

New York took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 10th inning thanks to an RBI double from Anthony Rizzo to play Jasson Dominguez.

But Seattle had a chance to tie the game or win it in the bottom half of the inning. Rodriguez began the inning on second base and advanced to third on a Cal Raleigh single. But that’s when things took a turn for the worse.

The Mariners looked to be in a good spot with runners on first and third, no outs and Randy Arozarena up to bat against Ian Hamilton.

Hamilton battled to make it a 2-2 count. On the fifth pitch of the at-bat, he delivered a slider that Arozarena whiffed on and sent his bat flying out of his hands down the third base line.

Rodriguez quickly jumped out of the way of the flying bat. But he seemed to forget the ball was still live. While he was composing himself, Yankees catcher Austin Wells threw the ball to third, where Jazz Chisholm tagged Rodriguez out for the second out of the inning.

Hamilton then struck out Justin Turner for the final out of the game.

“I just saw a bat flying up to my face and I just ran away from it,” Rodriguez said following the game. “And after that, I was just in a little bit of shock, and I didn’t get back to third base in time … After I saw the bat, I thought it was going to be a dead play.”

Rodriguez’s mistake came just one night after teammate Victor Robles was tagged out trying to steal home with the bases loaded and a 3-0 count to teammate Luke Raley.

Seattle trailed 2-0 at the time and did not score in the inning. The Mariners went on to lose that game 11-2.

“Vic is an aggressive player, there’s no doubt,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said afterward. “And that’s part of his game. That’s a situation where you’ve got to know you’re going to make it. He got his hand in there, but just wasn’t able to get in there safely.”

Robles declined to speak after the game.

Seattle began the year with playoff aspirations. But a brutal second half of the season leaves them three games behind Minnesota in the American League Wild Card race with just 10 games remaining.