Major League Baseball

Mariners release Byrnes 2 days after botched bunt

Published May. 2, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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The Seattle Mariners have released veteran outfielder Eric Byrnes, two days after a late-game gaffe and bizarre exit from the stadium on a bicycle.

After they were swept at home by the Texas Rangers, the punchless Mariners announced Sunday night  that they also optioned infielder Matt Tuiasosopo to Triple-A Tacoma.

Seattle called up outfielder Ryan Langerhans and infielder Josh Wilson from Tacoma. Both will be in uniform Tuesday against Tampa Bay after Monday's off day.

The Mariners signed Byrnes in January after Arizona released him. He was 3 for 32 (.094) in 15 games.

On Friday night, he inexplicably pulled his bat back on a botched suicide squeeze in extra innings of a scoreless game. Ichiro Suzuki was tagged out on the play.

Byrnes then struck out looking at a 1-2 fastball to end Seattle's chance.

"He said, and looking at the tape, the ball was down and away and he went to it and didn't think he could get to it," Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu said. "In hindsight he thought he should have thrown the bat at it instead of pulling back."

But then Byrnes' night got even more wacky. He bolted out the front door of the clubhouse riding his bicycle mere minutes after the game ended. He made a right turn down a tunnel and then made a 90-degree left turn around approaching Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik before he could make eye contact.

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