Julio Rodríguez's walk-off sac fly lifts the Mariners over the Twins 6-5 on June 25, 2025. See how J-Rod and Matt Brash secured the thrilling victory.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when it felt like one was slipping away, Julio Rodríguez stepped up and reminded everyone why he's the face of the franchise. With the game on the line in the bottom of the ninth, J-Rod delivered a go-ahead sacrifice fly, capping a wild, back-and-forth contest and giving the Seattle Mariners a much-needed 6-5 win over the Minnesota Twins.
Matt Brash secured his first save since 2023, slamming the door in a high-leverage moment.
For a while, it looked like an easy night at the ballpark. The Mariners jumped all over Twins starter Joe Ryan, building a comfortable 5-0 lead. Donovan Solano and rookie Cole Young were key catalysts, each collecting two hits and setting the table for the M's offense. But as has happened too often this season, the lead wasn't safe. Minnesota chipped away, eventually tying the game at 5-5 and sucking the air out of T-Mobile Park, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
The shaky lead falls partly on the shoulders of starter George Kirby. Matched up against the formidable Joe Ryan, Kirby needed a strong outing but continued his season of inconsistency, allowing the Twins to climb back into the game. Thankfully, the bullpen was there to pick him up. Andrés Muñoz was electric, pitching a perfect eighth inning to keep the game tied. That set the stage for Matt Brash, who came in for the ninth and earned his first save since 2023, a fantastic milestone in his return to a high-leverage role.
While the drama of Wednesday's game took center stage, it's impossible to ignore the bigger picture: Cal Raleigh is still the best power hitter in baseball right now. 'Big Dumper' continues to lead the entire league in home runs, a remarkable achievement that provides a constant, thunderous threat in the middle of the Mariners' lineup. Even on a night where he didn't go deep, his presence is felt, and his season-long performance remains one of the best stories in MLB.
This was the kind of gritty, heart-stopping win that can galvanize a team. While the victory is sweet, the Mariners know they can't afford to regularly let five-run leads evaporate. The bullpen proved its mettle, and Julio delivered in the clutch, but the focus now shifts to finding more consistency from the starting rotation, especially from an arm as important as George Kirby's. They'll look to carry this momentum into the next game and secure a series win.
