M’s counting on Julio Rodriguez vs. Rangers as video games dwindle

It might be a little late to salvage the Seattle Mariners’ playoff hopes, but Julio Rodriguez finally is getting untracked.

Rodriguez hit a three-run homer into the upper deck in left field with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning Friday night as the Mariners rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat the Texas Rangers 5-4.

The American League West rivals will continue their four-game series Saturday night in Seattle.

“I feel like that’s every player’s dream,” said Rodriguez, who went 4-for-5 and also had a double. “As a player you want to be in the batter’s box in those moments.”

Added M’s manager Dan Wilson: “That home run was crushed. That was tremendous, that was a big blow right there. … There aren’t many balls hit into that upper deck there. That was really launched.”

Over the past 15 games, which coincides with Hall of Fame member Edgar Martinez becoming the Mariners’ hitting coach, Rodriguez is batting .344 with four homers, 12 RBIs and an OPS of .981.

For the season, Rodriguez is batting .263, with 15 homers and 52 RBIs.

“The experience that he brings to the table every single night, it’s so much,” Rodriguez said earlier in the week when asked about Martinez’s impact. “I’m happy that he’s on our side. Really happy.”

Martinez, a two-time batting champion and career .312 hitter in 18 seasons playing in Seattle, has tried to simplify the approach for Rodriguez and the rest of the Mariners’ hitters. Still, despite a recent surge, the Mariners have a .220 team batting average, tied for worst in the majors with the Chicago White Sox.

“I don’t care if you have an exit velocity of 120 (mph),” Martinez said. “If you have the wrong swing, you’re going to hit for a low average and the production is not going to be that great.”

The Mariners (75-73), who have won six of their past nine games, are 4 1/2 games behind Houston in the AL West and 3 1/2 games out in the wild-card race.

The highlight Friday for the Rangers (71-77) was the return of two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom, who was making his first appearance since April 2023 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. deGrom pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed four hits, one walk and struck out four.

That came a night after Kumar Rocker allowed one run over four innings in his MLB debut.

The Rangers will have a starter on a pitch count for the third straight night Saturday when right-hander Max Scherzer (2-4, 3.89 ERA) takes the mound for the first time since July 30 after being on the injured list with right shoulder fatigue. Scherzer is 4-2 with a 2.85 ERA in eight career starts against Seattle.

“We have coverage (Saturday) to help out Max,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “And we knew that we have to have that kind of coverage.”

The Mariners will counter on Saturday with right-hander Logan Gilbert (7-11, 3.15 ERA), who is 4-2 with a 2.31 ERA in 12 starts against Texas.

Gilbert hasn’t allowed a run in beating the Rangers twice this season. On April 29 in Arlington, Texas, he pitched 6 2/3 innings and gave up two hits and struck out six in a 4-0 victory. On June 16 in Seattle, he allowed just two hits over eight innings with nine strikeouts in a 5-0 decision.

–Field Level Media