May 2nd 2002, in the 11th inning of the Mariners game versus the Rangers with Ichiro on third, skipper Don Wakamatsu gave Byrnes the signal for a suicide squeeze. Brynes was ordered to bunt no matter what but as the pitch came he inexplicably pulled his bat away leaving Ichiro to be tagged out at home. After the game concluded with yet another Mariners loss, Byrnes stormed out of the clubhouse and out of Safeco Field on his bicycle passing General Manager Jack Z in a fury of rage and rubber. He would be released two days latter.