Two-time Seattle Mariners All-Star Julio Rodriguez left Sunday’s 6-4 win over the Houston Astros with an ankle injury following a violent collision with the outfield wall.
After the match, Manager Scott Servais told reporters Rodriguez said X-rays had come back negative and the injury was “a small ankle sprain.” A timetable for Rodriguez’s return was not initially clear.
Rodriguez tried to make a play on a deep fly ball off the bat of Yordan Alvarez, but he crashed into the wall and dropped the ball in the warning track. Both of his feet slammed into the wall and he left a cut in the wall caused by the spikes on his left shoe. He immediately grabbed his right ankle in pain as he fell to the ground.
Julio Rodriguez leaves injured after crashing into the wall
He walked away with the help of a trainer, but was able to put some weight on him. image.twitter.com/X34SXbKKzb
— Talking about baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 21, 2024
Rodriguez remained on the ground for several minutes before getting to his feet and being helped off the field by a fitness trainer. He managed to limp off the field while supporting himself on his right foot, but did not return to the match.
Alvarez’s triple in play helps him cycle
Alvarez reached third base on the play for an RBI triple that cut Seattle’s lead to 3-2 in the top of the sixth inning. The hit was Alvarez’s third of the day after a single in the first inning and a home run in the fourth inning. He then doubled in the eighth inning to complete a cycle.
Astros and Mariners in a tight battle in the American League West Division
Rodriguez, 23, was the American League Rookie of the Year in 2021 and was named to the All-Star team in his first two MLB seasons. He has gotten off to a relatively slow start this season after averaging 30 homers and hitting .275 or better in his first two seasons.
In 99 games entering Sunday, Rodriguez was hitting .265/.317/.375 with nine homers, 37 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. He had recently found his rhythm, with five multi-hit games and four homers in his previous 12 starts.
The Mariners are in a battle with the Astros atop the American League West. They are tied with the Astros for first place after Sunday’s win.