In an exhilarating game that really showed off the Seattle Mariners’ grit, rookie Cole Young made his major league debut one to remember. He hit a walk-off fielder’s choice in the bottom of the 11th inning, sealing a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins at T-Mobile Park.
The win bumped Seattle’s record up to 31-26 and nudged them into a half-game lead in the American League West. Young’s big moment, along with some clutch plays from his teammates, made this one of those games you just don’t forget.
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Cole Young’s Major League Debut
Cole Young’s debut? Honestly, it was kind of electric. He played with a mix of aggression and patience, then clinched the win with that walk-off fielder’s choice.
Young ended up 1-for-4, picking up the game-winning RBI. Afterward, he seemed almost stunned. “That was unreal,” Young said postgame. “I can’t even describe the past 24 hours. It has been insane.”
Game Highlights and Key Moments
This game was a rollercoaster, no question. Bryce Miller, Seattle’s starting pitcher, came back after 18 days on the injured list with right elbow inflammation. Miller got through the first inning, striking out two, but ran into trouble in the second.
Matt Wallner launched a two-run homer, and Byron Buxton added an RBI single, putting Minnesota up 3-0. Seattle didn’t stay quiet for long, though.
Cal Raleigh answered with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third—his 22nd this season, tying him with Shohei Ohtani for the league lead. Then, in the top of the fourth, the fire alarms at T-Mobile Park went off and caused a 10-minute delay. That was it for Miller, who finished with two strikeouts, one walk, and gave up three earned runs on five hits across four innings.
Mid-Game Drama and Ejections
Things got heated in the seventh inning. Carlos Correa, the Twins’ shortstop, got tossed after arguing with home plate umpire Austin Jones from the on-deck circle.
Manager Rocco Baldelli jumped in and got ejected too. The whole thing started when Correa disagreed with a call against third baseman Brooks Lee.
Seattle’s Comeback and Key Plays
The Mariners grabbed the lead in the bottom of the seventh when J.P. Crawford smashed a go-ahead two-run homer, putting Seattle up 4-3. Crawford was on fire, going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, a run, and two RBIs.
The Twins tied it up in the top of the ninth, pushing the game into extra innings—again. That’s three games in a row for the Mariners going past nine innings. You can’t make this stuff up.
Reliever Collin Snider, who’s had some rough outings lately, came up big with scoreless 10th and 11th innings. He got a huge assist from his defense, including a slick 5-4-3 double play in the top of the 10th, with Young and a solid throw from Julio Rodriguez in center field making it happen.
Manager Dan Wilson’s Praise for Cole Young
Mariners manager Dan Wilson didn’t hold back when talking about Cole Young. “He’s a big league player, and that’s why he’s here,” Wilson said. “He made the plays, he did an outstanding job, and that’s not easy to do when it’s your first big-league game.”
Wilson’s trust in Young was clear, and the rookie absolutely delivered.
Looking Ahead: The Rubber Match
After that wild win, the Mariners are hoping to ride the wave into the rubber match against the Twins. First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. PT on Sunday.
Seattle will send Luis Castillo to the mound, while Minnesota goes with Chris Paddack. That’s a matchup worth catching if you ask me.
Want more details? Check out the full article, including postgame interviews and plenty of analysis, over at Sports Illustrated.
Keep an eye out for more updates. If you’re on social media, you can follow our Inside the Mariners coverage by liking us on Facebook or following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on X—@Teren_Kowatsch and @RefuseToLosePod.
And hey, if you’re into podcasts, “Refuse to Lose” is worth a listen for deeper dives and some real talk about the team.
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