SEATTLE — Leo Rivas delivered a pinch-hit RBI single in the 10th inning Friday night, lifting the Seattle Mariners to a 6-5 walk-off win over the Chicago Cubs at T-Mobile Park.
The Mariners improved to 62-68.
Rivas, a 26-year-old utility player, entered as a defensive replacement. Bases loaded. One out. He lined a 1-2 slider to center field. The winning run scored. The dugout emptied.
Julio Rodríguez and Seranthony Domínguez led the celebration at first base.
The win snaps Seattle’s two-game skid. It pulls the club within 3.5 games of the final American League Wild Card spot.
| Metric | Mariners (62-68) | AL Wild Card Race |
|---|---|---|
| Games back | — | 3.5 |
| Last 20 games | 8-12 | — |
| Bullpen blown saves | 17 (T-1st in AL) | — |
The game was a microcosm of Seattle’s season. Rodríguez homered in the first. Cal Raleigh doubled in two runs in the third. The bullpen bent — allowing two runs in the sixth — but did not break.
Chicago tied it at 5-5 in the top of the eighth on a two-out single from Dansby Swanson.
Neither team scored in the ninth.
The 10th began with automatic runner Jonatan Clase on second. A sacrifice bunt moved him to third. The Cubs intentionally walked Rodríguez. Then Raleigh. That loaded the bases for Rivas, who had one hit in his previous 11 at-bats.
He made it count.
The loss drops Chicago (70-60) one game back of the Milwaukee Brewers for the second National League Wild Card spot. The Cubs have lost four of six.
Seattle’s path remains narrow. The Houston Astros and Texas Rangers hold the top two AL West spots. Both are above .500. The Mariners need a September surge.
Friday’s win provides a tangible spark. The rotation anchors Luis Castillo, George Kirby, and Logan Gilbert. The offense relies on Rodríguez and Raleigh. Rivas now has a moment.
The schedule does not get easier. Seattle hosts the Cubs again Saturday, then faces three straight series against division opponents.
The playoff script is not written. Friday night, Seattle flipped a page.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: What was the final score of the Mariners game today?
- A: The Mariners won 6-5 over the Cubs in a 10-inning walk-off victory.
- Q: How did Leo Rivas win the game for the Mariners?
- A: Rivas delivered a pinch-hit RBI single in the 10th inning with the bases loaded, scoring the winning run.
- Q: How does this win affect the Mariners’ playoff chances?
- A: The win snapped a two-game skid and pulled Seattle within 3.5 games of the final American League Wild Card spot.