The September 18, 2024 clash between the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners delivered a nail-biting 5–3 Mariners win, powered by Julio Rodríguez’s late-game heroics and a locked-in bullpen. While the Yankees’ Anthony Rizzo and DJ LeMahieu combined for four hits, Seattle’s staff stranded eight New York runners and closed it out with a game-ending strikeout of Aaron Judge with the bases loaded. The atmosphere at Yankee Stadium (72°F, clear skies) felt playoff-ready, with momentum swinging until Rodríguez’s RBI double in the seventh flipped the game for good.
For advanced metrics—exit velocity, pitch sequencing, and win probability charts—see MLB’s Statcast on Baseball Savant. Below, we break down player performances, tactical decisions, and key moments you won’t find in a standard recap.
Yankees Player Stats: Missed Opportunities
| Player | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | K | AVG | wRC+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DJ LeMahieu* | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | 145 |
| Aaron Judge | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | .333 | 120 |
| Anthony Rizzo | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .250 | 110 |
| *LeMahieu’s .500 average led New York but he saw few RBI chances. | ||||||||
Key issue: The Yankees went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position (RISP). Strikeouts in the ninth—including Giancarlo Stanton’s third of the night and the final K of Judge—defined the missed opportunities.
New to wRC+? Here’s a quick explainer from FanGraphs.
Mariners Player Stats: Rodríguez Shines
| Player | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | K | AVG | Hard Hit% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julio Rodríguez# | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .400 | 92% |
| Teoscar Hernández | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .333 | 88% |
| #Rodríguez’s seventh-inning RBI double left the bat at 107.3 mph. | ||||||||
Why Seattle won: bullpen dominance. Four relievers held the Yankees to one hit over the final three innings, with Paul Sewald’s 98 mph fastball striking out Judge to end it.
Tactical Breakdown: Pitching & Defensive Plays
| Inning | Play | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Top 7th | Rodríguez’s RBI double off Clay Holmes | +32% win probability |
| Bottom 5th | Yankees turn an inning-saving double play with the bases loaded | Prevents 2+ runs |
| Bottom 9th | Final strikeout of Judge with the bases full | Seals the Mariners’ 5–3 win |
Seattle mixed elevated four-seamers with late-breaking sliders to neutralize power bats and leaned on crisp infield positioning to erase traffic. For context on how win probability swings are calculated, see this WPA primer.
Dodgers vs. Mariners Preview: Key Stats
Next up: Seattle faces the Los Angeles Dodgers. Here’s what matters most:
- Projected pitching matchup: Logan Gilbert (SEA, 3.12 ERA) vs. Walker Buehler (LAD, 2.89 ERA).
- Rodríguez vs. Dodgers in 2024: .310 AVG (3 HR).
- Bullpen edge: Mariners relievers (2.98 ERA) vs. Dodgers (3.45).
Stat to watch: The Dodgers lead MLB in first-inning runs—Gilbert must avoid early damage by attacking the zone and limiting free passes.
