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Aug. 18 (UPI) — Infielder Dylan Moore demonstrated the importance of continuous focus on the game by committing an unconventional base-running error and being called out for “abandonment” during the Seattle Mariners’ triumph in Kansas City, Mo.
The peculiar incident unfolded in the top of the seventh inning of the Mariners’ 6-4 win against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
“We need to tighten up our game, there’s no doubt about it,” commented Mariners manager Scott Servais in response to the blunder being brought up by the press.
“However, our offensive performance was strong enough to overcome it. Nevertheless, we understand that we cannot sustain this kind of play.”
The Mariners had been trailing 4-3 before the start of the seventh inning. Relief pitcher Jackson Kowar of the Royals struck out designated hitter Teoscar Hernandez of the Mariners as the first batter. Moore then faced the right-handed pitcher.
Kowar missed the strike zone with his first pitch. He followed it with a fastball that was called a strike. During the 12-pitch at-bat that followed, Moore managed to foul off seven pitches. Eventually, Kowar threw a 2-2 slider to conclude the exchange.
Moore hit the ball into shallow left field. Royals outfielder M.J. Melendez ran in to catch it, but dropped the ball when he hit the ground. Melendez then noticed Moore, who turned around at first base and walked towards the dugout, assuming that Melendez had secured the out. Melendez threw the ball to first baseman Matt Duffy, who tagged Moore for the out.
According to MLB rules, a player is automatically declared out if they touch first base and then deviate from the base path, “clearly abandoning their effort to touch the next base.”
Moore went 1 for 3 in the victory. The five-year veteran has a batting average of .205 for this season.
Mariners’ star outfielder Julio Rodriguez proceeded to hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the eighth inning, giving them a 5-4 lead. Catcher Cal Raleigh added a solo home run in the ninth inning.
Rodriguez, who also had a double, went 5 for 5 with five RBIs and a run scored. The two-time All-Star has a season batting average of .269 with 20 home runs, 78 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases.
The Mariners (66-55) will face the Houston Astros (70-52) at 8:10 p.m. EDT on Friday in Houston.
