Seattle Mariners left fielder Luke Raley (20) and center fielder Julio Rodriguez (44) and right fielder Dominic Canzone (8) celebrate after defeating the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Mariners stun Yankees with improbable ninth-inning rally

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 5/20/24

How did the Yankees blow that?

New York held a 4-1 lead over the Mariners in the ninth inning. On the mound was closer Clay Holmes, who entered the game having pitched 20 innings this season without allowing an earned run.

An eighth win in a row seemed inevitable for the Yankees, but that's when Seattle did the improbable.

The Mariners scored four runs in the top of the ninth to stun the Yankees for a 5-4 win in the first of a four-game series.

Seattle scored its first run of the inning after Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres committed a throwing error on Mariners left fielder Luke Raley's infield single up the middle.

Oh no. Mariners score a run pic.twitter.com/91UvXmtBGz
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) May 21, 2024

Designated hitter Mitch Haniger's single to center field pulled the Mariners within one, and they tied the game on a sac fly before. Finally, first baseman Ty France's hit gave them their first lead of the game.

Mariners make it a one run game pic.twitter.com/fuzfgbDGf4
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) May 21, 2024

And Ty France goes for the jugular.

The Mariners have stormed all the way back to take the lead with two outs here in the 9th inning at Yankee Stadium. pic.twitter.com/m3DSW68dNb
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) May 21, 2024

Closer Andres Munoz sealed the shocking win by forcing a groundout to second baseman Dylan Moore.

4-1 YANKS ENTERING THE 9TH AND THE MARINERS COME ALL THE WAY BACK VS CLAY HOLMES TO WIN 5-4 pic.twitter.com/BSfZ31tpgo
— Cam (@Camd3n_10) May 21, 2024

The Yankees' season record dropped to 33-16, which is still the AL's best. And Holmes' ERA is still a slim 1.74 for the season. The result didn't have a huge ripple effect on the standings, nor is it a reason to worry about a closer who has otherwise been outstanding.

In a 162-game season, weird things are bound to happen. Still, few things will top the oddity that occurred Monday night in the Bronx.

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