Mariners Had One of the Most Improbable Walk-Off Wins of MLB Season

Detroit Tigers outfielder Ryan Vilade tracks a ball in the outfield during the ninth inning of Thursday's game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. | Screengrab Twitter @MLB

The Seattle Mariners defeated the Detroit Tigers, 4-3, at T-Mobile Park on Thursday night, earning the victory thanks to one of the most thrilling walk-offs of the MLB season.

Here's how it played out.

Down by two runs with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger stepped up the plate. The Mariners were down to their last strike when Haniger, who had just fouled off a 1-2 slider, lined a fastball into right field.

The ball seemed destined to hit the outfield grass either way, but Tigers outfielder Ryan Vilade went for broke, diving for the ball in an attempt to end the game right then and there.

An outfielder's worst nightmare ensued. The ball got behind Vilade and all hell broke loose.

Haniger's double cleared the bases and the Mariners won the game as the 27,927 fans at T-Mobile Park collectively erupted.

THE @MARINERS WALK IT OFF 😮 pic.twitter.com/nU6E0gGgtt

— MLB (@MLB) August 9, 2024

When asked about his ill-fated dive after the game, Vilade acknowledged that not making the play "sucked" but said he would continue to be aggressive moving forward.

We hear from Ryan Vilade after the Tigers' 4-3 loss to the Mariners Thursday night. #RepDetroit pic.twitter.com/6IMQDsvX9C

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) August 9, 2024

"Yeah I got a good jump on it," Vilade said. "Thought I had it. I didn't."

"I think I got a good jump to where ... Catch it, the game's over, we're celebrating here. Should have caught it and it sucks I didn't."

Here's how improbable Seattle's walk-off win was, according to OPTA Stats.

Since pitches were first tracked in 1988, only one MLB player has delivered a walkoff hit in the below situation:

bottom 9
bases loaded
down by multiple runs
team down to last strike
behind in the count (strikes > balls)

That one player was the @Mariners' Mitch Haniger tonight. pic.twitter.com/3Sdmenyn9b

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) August 9, 2024

So improbable that, dating back to 1988, a team in that situation hadn't won until the Mariners did Thursday night. And that's why you always stay at the game until the very end, folks.

This article was originally published on www.si.com as Mariners Had One of the Most Improbable Walk-Off Wins of MLB Season.