March 28, 2024

Mariners Beat Yankees 2-1 in 12th with Walk-off Homer by Rodriguez

September 15, 2011 by · Leave a Comment 

In a season that has lacked a lot of great games for us loyal Mariners fans, tonight’s 2-1 win over the New York Yankees has to rate right up there with the top five. Tonight’s game was a nail-biter all the way, climaxing with a walk-off homer by Luis Rodriguez in the bottom of the 12th to snap a four game losing streak by our hapless sailors. As for the AL East leading Yankees I am sure that this one stung them pretty good, giving them something to think about on the long flight home. Only 20,327 paid to get in tonight and from the looks of things not more than 12 or 13 thousand were around three hours later when the Mariners players met Rodriguez at home to celebrate the dramatic win.

Luis Rodriguez comes through with a huge homer tonight in 2-1 win

The Mariners scored their first run in the fourth on a wild pitch by Yankees rookie starter Nova and the way Jason Vargas was pitching tonight it looked like that might be enough for the win. Vargas used his new delivery tonight featuring a little extra body torque that seemed to give him an extra mile or two on his fastball, as well as helping to hide his release point a little longer. Vargas was sharp tonight against the dangerous Yankees lineup allowing two hits after six and 2/3 innings before giving up a solo homer to Nick Swisher in the 7th over the left field fence.

Manager Eric Wedge pulled Vargas right away after the homer to Swisher and brought in Jamie Wright as the beginning of a parade of four Mariner relievers who managed to hold the Yankees to only one hit and zero runs from the 7th through the 12th. Ex-Teacher Steve Delebar relieved ex-Bartender Tom Wilhelmsen in the 12th to get his his first win on a night where it looked like our boys would never do what it takes to win despite numerous opportunities late in the game. But alas the scrappy Rodriguez who also had a pair of doubles tonight proved he still has value for this club by providing his second dramatic walk-off hit of the year, the first coming way back in April against Toronto. Baseball can be fun to watch sometimes and tonight it certainly was. Go M’s http://jeffsmariners.com

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