Disastrous Relief Move Blows Up On Mariners In Big Way

When Yordan Alvarez came to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the 9th and the Houston Astros down 7-5 to the Seattle Mariners, his team had a 9% win probability. But then Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais brought in the 2021 Cy Young winner, left-hander Robbie Ray, to face the lefty-hitting Alvarez. Bad move.

A 438-foot monster shot for a 3-run walk-off homer. Believe it or not, it's the first ever walk-off HR in postseason history with a player's team trailing by multiple runs.

And there's more. 

Move over Kirk Gibson. Yes, Alvarez's blast had a 91% Win Probability Added, the highest of any play in MLB playoff history. Even more than the previous leader at 87%, one of the most iconic postseason moments of all-time, Gibson's gimpy-legged walk-off HR for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988. 

“I think it's one of the most special moments that I've had in my career, having [my parents] there, and even for just the city of Houston,” Alvarez said. “They know that we're a team that never gives up. So just being able to get that hit right there was one of the most special moments of my career.”

His bat flip said it all.

The Mariners had a 7-3 lead going into the 8th inning, but had things turn around on them similar to what they did to the Toronto Blue Jays to clinch the Wild Card series. 

Photo: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports