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and Helton's HR got out due to altitude (something's he's quite familiar with) and the wind blowing out to left. The park is situated with home plate on the northwest corner, and the wind usually comes from the west/northwest off the salt flats and the lake, which means left to left-center is the wind-aided-home-run field. Grandstand isn't high enough to block wind like it would in a MLB park. That said, if the ball had been down at the knees, instead of belt high, it's a grounder to shortstop or perhaps even swing-and-a-miss. Pitcher made a mistake, MLB-quality hitter did what MLB-quality hitters are supposed to do to mistakes. Morales' HR wouldn't have made it out of Safeco either - it barely cleared the fence.
I think your point number three is the key. Maurer works backwards in the count and is confident in his off-speed pitch. Behind in the count? Here's a breaking ball that you'll be out on your front foot flailing away at because you were expecting fastball.