Yankees secure playoff spot with 2-1 win over Mariners in 10 innings

In a tense game on Wednesday night, the Seattle Mariners faced the New York Yankees, ultimately losing 2-1 in 10 innings. The game was marked by a critical mistake in the bottom of the 10th when Julio Rodríguez was picked off third base after dodging a flying bat that had slipped from Randy Arozarena's hands. This unusual incident left Rodríguez momentarily disoriented, leading to his failure to return to the base in time. The play was not dead, and the Yankees capitalized on the mistake with a quick throw from catcher Austin Wells to third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. Rodríguez expressed his surprise at the situation, stating that he thought the play would be called dead due to the bat flying towards him. His momentary lapse in focus was compounded by the fact that the Mariners were already struggling in their playoff race. The loss was particularly painful as it came after both Houston and Minnesota lost earlier in the day, providing Seattle with a missed opportunity to gain ground in the AL West and wild-card standings. The Mariners now find themselves five games behind first-place Houston and three games back of Minnesota for the final AL wild card spot. This defeat adds to the frustration of a season that has not gone as planned for Seattle, with critical mistakes and missed chances becoming a recurring theme. The Yankees' victory not only secured their playoff berth but also highlighted the Mariners' ongoing struggles. The combination of poor decision-making and unfortunate circumstances has left Seattle in a precarious position as they continue to fight for a postseason spot.