Mariners lose to Diamondbacks 8-4 on June 10. Dominic Canzone's heroic 9th-inning HR is erased by Josh Naylor's walk-off grand slam in a stunning loss.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
For a fleeting moment, it felt like a Hollywood script. Dominic Canzone, just recalled from the minors, crushing a game-tying, 450-foot bomb in the ninth inning against his old team to cap a wild comeback. But baseball can be cruel. The storybook ending was ripped away in the 11th inning, as a Josh Naylor grand slam sent the Seattle Mariners to a devastating 8-4 loss, their 11th in the last 15 games.
A game-tying 450-foot two-run home run to right field in the 9th inning.
Down 4-0 and staring down another lifeless loss, the Mariners' offense suddenly awoke in the top of the ninth. A furious rally saw them plate four runs, stunning the home crowd at Chase Field. The crescendo was Canzone's majestic two-run shot, a no-doubter that knotted the game at four. The dugout erupted, and for a moment, it seemed the M's had stolen a victory that could turn their season around. But the magic ran out. After a scoreless tenth, the Diamondbacks loaded the bases in the bottom of the 11th, setting the stage for Josh Naylor to end the game with one swing, a soul-crushing walk-off grand slam.
If there's a silver lining in this gut-wrenching loss, it's Dominic Canzone. Recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on Monday to provide an offensive spark, he did exactly that. The move, which saw the Mariners designate Leody Taveras for assignment, paid immediate dividends. Entering as a pinch-hitter, Canzone delivered one of the biggest hits of the Mariners' season, his first big-league homer of the year, against the very team that traded him to Seattle in 2023. It was a powerful statement that he belongs in the bigs and a tantalizing glimpse of the power he can bring to the outfield.
One heroic homer can't erase the larger reality: this team is struggling. The loss drops the Mariners to 33-32, and the recent 4-11 stretch has put their position in the AL West in jeopardy. What was once a solid standing has become precarious, and the pressure is mounting. Management is clearly trying to find a spark, as evidenced by the Canzone-for-Taveras swap and Casey Lawrence clearing waivers to provide pitching depth in Tacoma. But the on-field results need to turn around, and fast. This loss, with its incredible high and devastating low, feels like a microcosm of their recent fortunes.
There's no time to dwell on what could have been. The Mariners have to flush this one and come back ready to fight on Tuesday. The good news is they'll have one of their most reliable arms on the mound, with Bryan Woo (5-3, 3.07 ERA) set to face Arizona's Brandon Pfaadt. It's a classic 'stopper' situation. Can Woo halt the slide and get the M's back in the win column? A strong start from him is exactly what this team needs to change the narrative.
