In a game that tested the limits of baseball's new pitch clock, Seattle Mariners outfielder Dominic Canzone turned a lengthy delay into a career-defining moment. After waiting nearly 90 seconds to step into the batter's box in the fourth inning, Canzone unleashed a grand slam that left no doubt—launching a hanging slider 105.5 mph off the bat and into the right-field seats.
The scene was set when J.P. Crawford drew a four-pitch walk, loading the bases with nobody out. Astros starter Tatsuya Imai, already struggling to find the strike zone, received a mound visit from pitching coach Josh Miller—likely a stall tactic while the bullpen warmed. What followed was a tense exchange between Imai and home plate umpire Jim Wolf over the pitcher's mechanics from the stretch position. But when play finally resumed, Canzone made the wait worthwhile, crushing a cement-mixer slider that sat right over the heart of the plate. The 87-mph offering never stood a chance.
The grand slam—the first of Canzone's career—shattered the game open, giving the Mariners a commanding 6-2 lead they would never relinquish. It was a moment that turned T-Mobile Park into a launching pad, sending a projectile that even NASA engineers across town would envy.
For Imai, the night had started promisingly compared to his last outing against Seattle. In that April 10 start, the right-hander managed just one batter before being pulled after 37 pitches, allowing three runs and walking four. A month-long stint on the injured list with arm fatigue followed before Tuesday's return. But the damage wasn't limited to Canzone's blast. Randy Arozarena had already tagged Imai for a two-run homer into the Crawford Boxes earlier in the game, part of a 4-for-4 night that left him a triple shy of the cycle. Arozarena also sparked the fourth-inning rally by reaching base on a hit-by-pitch, immediately after a successful ABS challenge overturned a would-be strikeout.
On the mound for Seattle, Bryan Woo battled through a night that didn't showcase his sharpest stuff, but the Mariners' offense provided all the support he needed. With Canzone's Spicy Meatball stealing the show, Seattle secured a statement win against their division rivals—one that reminded everyone why this team's bats are anything but ordinary.