J-Rod makes Mariners history with decisive homer

CLEVELAND -- Reaching another Mariners milestone was a nice touch for Julio Rodríguez on Friday, but it took a big-time back seat to the manner in which it manifested.

Rodríguez ripped a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the sixth inning against the Guardians that pushed the Mariners to a much-needed 5-3 victory. In a 2-2 count with two outs, and on a blustery afternoon at Progressive Field for Cleveland's home opener, Rodríguez sailed a sky-high ball that narrowly cleared the elevated fence beyond left field for his second homer of the season -- and the 30th of his career.

Doing so in just his 140th game, dating back to his debut on Opening Day last year, Rodríguez is the fastest player in Mariners history to that many homers.

Yet Friday’s timing, in Rodríguez’s eyes, was even more vital -- particularly after a 2-5 homestand.

“I was really happy with just delivering for the team, and especially when we've been missing that,” Rodríguez said. “We've been missing that a little bit, and being able to be there and be able to deliver is huge.”

He also stole his third base of the year in the third, No. 28 for his career, putting him in territory with Fernando Tatis Jr. and Darryl Strawberry as the only players in AL/NL history with that many homers and at least 20 stolen bases in 140 games to begin a career.

These are the latest statistical achievements in a career that could be full of them. His power/speed combo last year led Rodríguez to becoming the first player in history to homer 25 times and steal 25 bases in a debut season, leading to a runaway victory in the race for the AL Rookie of the Year Award.

Friday's big blast was the final touch in Seattle overcoming a 3-0 deficit, into which the Mariners fell largely due to an issue that’s plagued their pitching staff -- walks, non-competitive misses and too many baserunners. Logan Gilbert was the culprit Friday, allowing two of his free baserunners to come around to score. But Rodríguez managed to put Seattle back in front to stay.

“I was really pumped,” Rodríguez said. “I was locked in. ... And I delivered.”

Before Rodríguez went deep, the Mariners’ bats, which have also struggled, crept their way back by borrowing from Cleveland’s baserunning-driven formula, beginning with a fifth-inning single from Cooper Hummel, his first hit with the Mariners, which was followed by a double into the left-field corner from J.P. Crawford, allowing Hummel to score from first. Ty France then followed with an RBI knock that scored Crawford.

Then in the sixth, before Rodríguez homered, Jarred Kelenic ripped a 105.7 mph line drive in front of center fielder Myles Straw and legged out a hustle double in every sense of the term. That positioned Crawford to tie the game at 3 by ripping another double to score Kelenic, this one to the right-center gap. Rodríguez then followed with his fateful homer in the following at-bat.

“I feel like you saw our ballgame there,” Rodríguez said. “The way that we play the game and the way that we try to approach the game every day, just trying to commit to our approach and swing at the good pitches, and I feel like that's why we're able to come up huge today.”

With a much bigger microscope during Seattle’s season-opening homestand, much had been made about the Mariners’ offensive struggles. In their eyes, it was justified -- but only to an extent.

“Baseball is so hard, man,” Rodríguez said. “I know all of us prepare ourselves with the best that we can every single day, so if something comes out like that and like we don't deliver, we can't get down on ourselves. I feel like we prepare ourselves so much. We're always putting in the effort, doing the right things and doing the little things. I feel like, why would we be down when it's just the first homestand? We all know it's a long road. It's a marathon. We're not running sprints here.”

Rodríguez had just put action into those words following Friday’s game, as he has with all his public commentary. Immediately after the final out, he completed a full workout in the weight room deep under Cleveland’s visiting clubhouse and returned after most were gone.

“I’ve got to, though,” he said laughing. “That ball barely got out, so I’ve got to put some muscle on."

No one doubts Rodríguez’s talent, which all can see. But his preparation for those moments is equally superb, and it’s a big reason why the Mariners broke through.