'Aggressive' Robles' gamble backfires vs. Yankees

SEATTLE -- Victor Robles has been running wild all season for the Mariners, and on Tuesday night against the Yankees, he did something that -- given his aggressive demeanor on the basepaths -- long seemed inevitable.

He tried to steal home.

In a 3-0 count to Justin Turner with the bases loaded and two outs in the first inning and Yanks starter Luis Gil both on the ropes and struggling to find the strike zone, Robles raced toward the plate as Gil was grabbing the rosin bag on the back of the mound. But Gil caught Robles in his peripherals and was able to fire off his back foot to catcher Austin Wells, who corralled the ball as it met Robles¡¯ running path and tagged him just in time as he was sliding headfirst.

Turner, Seattle¡¯s 39-year-old veteran who has seen just about everything in pro baseball, stood to the left of the batter¡¯s box and stared toward the home dugout after Robles was called out, seemingly in disbelief.

It was hardly the only -- or even most glaring -- reason that the Mariners fell, 11-2, to the Yanks to snap a three-game win streak. But it was certainly the most scrutinized.

"Vic is an aggressive player, there's no doubt,¡± Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. ¡°And that's part of his game. That's a situation where you've got to know you're going to make it. He got his hand in there, but just wasn't able to get in there safely.¡±

Robles, who preferred not to speak postgame, had yet to be thrown out on a steal attempt since signing with Seattle in early June, as he¡¯d been 25-for-25.

But the Mariners instead came away scoreless and were already playing from behind after Bryan Woo surrendered a two-run double to Aaron Judge in the top of the first.

Those were the first runs allowed among a career-high seven from the electric righty, who¡¯d held the Yanks scoreless over a combined 11 1/3 innings in each of his first two starts against them.

Before Robles' bang-bang play at the plate, the Mariners looked like they were about to be in business against Gil, whose first three pitches to Turner were all four-seam fastballs and way outside the strike zone. Gil had also walked Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh to load the bases -- and his night began with an errant heater that hit Robles on his right hand and fingers on his very first pitch.

That moment, too, was just as wild within the chaotic first frame.

After being plunked by the 91.7 mph fastball, Robles hit the deck in pain but immediately popped up, quickly jogged to the mound and wrapped his left arm around Gil¡¯s shoulder to suggest that he believed that the ball got away from the Yanks¡¯ rookie. Both broadcasts pointed out that they¡¯d never witnessed such a sight, as players racing to the mound after being hit by a pitch typically are doing so in anger rather than in good faith.

Then after the dust settled, Robles -- who already was dealing with a right leg issue that forced him to exit Sunday¡¯s game and serve as the designated hitter upon returning on Monday -- was pinch-hit for in his next plate appearance by Mitch Garver.

The Mariners later announced that Robles suffered a right hand contusion, and that X-rays were negative.

"Obviously, he likes to put pressure on the defense,¡± Wilson said. ¡°And that's part of his game. That was a very aggressive play and, again, one that you want to make sure you're going to be [safe] in. And he just wasn't able to wasn't able to get in there.¡±

Tuesday¡¯s injury was the latest in a season that¡¯s been full of them.

Robles dealt with hip flexor issues for a chunk of the summer, which were unrelated to the latest right leg issue that led to him limping before departing on Sunday. The 10 HBPs -- including six in his past nine games -- have featured some dents, including two games missed recently in St. Louis.

Robles has been a revelation in Seattle, where he¡¯s found a second wind after being released by the Nationals. He¡¯s blossomed from a platoon to everyday player, from a lower-order bat to the leadoff spot -- all while rapidly becoming a clubhouse and fan favorite. He parlayed that total package into a two-year, $9.75 million extension signed in August.

Yet the aggressiveness he plays with also can come with challenges.

On one hand, Seattle has sorely needed him to be a spark plug within its oft-scuffling lineup. Robles is hitting .448 with a 1.137 OPS over the past month, both MLB-bests among players with at least 75 plate appearances in this span.

On the other, decisions like Tuesday¡¯s -- even with good intentions -- can yield suboptimal results.