Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez ended a month-long drought on Wednesday when he hit his first home run since July 20. Rodriguez hit a towering two-run shot in the fifth inning to help the Mariners earn a 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Rodriguez’s homer sent him and shortstop J.P. Crawford home to give Seattle a boost over the Rays. Crawford had returned to the lineup Wednesday after spending a month on the injured list because of a fractured right hand.
Rodriguez, the 2022 American League Rookie of the Year, has struggled offensively this season. After recording 32 homers and 103 RBIs last year, he has just 12 homers and 42 RBIs so far this season. He’s also hitting a career-low .253 and has 18 stolen bases, which is down from his totals from the past two seasons.
Overall, the Mariners’ offense has left a lot to be desired in 2024, as the team leads the league in strikeouts and holds the league low in hits. Seattle has relied on its solid starting rotation to stay in the playoff mix for much of the year, but lackluster offensive production has plagued the team on several occasions this season.
The Mariners are still trying to recover from a disastrous 1-8 road trip that culminated in the decision to fire longtime manager Scott Servais. Seattle hired former catcher Dan Wilson as a replacement and added Hall of Famer Edgar Martinez as hitting coach in hopes of keeping their playoff chances alive.
Seattle once held a 10-game lead in the AL West but has since fallen behind the Houston Astros in the division. The Astros also won Wednesday, keeping the Mariners 3 1/2 games behind.
Seattle’s next game will be against the Los Angeles Angels, last in the standings, while the Astros will face the Kansas City Royals (75-59) at home.
