J-Rod shows signs of breakout with 2nd straight multi-hit, multi-steal game

SEATTLE -- Julio Rodríguez has had his hot streaks and his cold spells this season. But Monday at T-Mobile Park, Mariners manager Scott Servais said he’s seeing something more than just numbers on the statsheet from his 23-year-old star.

“Julio’s in a good spot right now,” Servais said. “I think the people who have followed us in the last few years know when [his hot streaks] start.

“Julio’s got a little bounce in his step right now. He’s starting to feel it, and we all are.”

After logging his first multi-hit game in a week in the Mariners’ series finale in Washington D.C., Rodríguez kept things going on Monday night, as Seattle opened up a seven-game homestand with a 3-2 win over the Astros.

It started with a one-out single the other way off a sinker from Framber Valdez in the bottom of the first inning, moving J.P. Crawford over to third and helping set up what would turn into a three-run rally for all the scoring the Mariners would get -- and need.

The next frame, Rodríguez jumped on a first-pitch changeup and rocketed it through the left side of the infield at 111.5 mph, his second-highest exit velocity this season.

“Confidence grows,” Servais said. “We saw it coming on the road trip with the home runs, feeling better about himself and playing free. I’ve always talked about how it’s really important that guys don’t think too much, they’ve got to play free – especially guys who are that talented. When he does, special things happen.”

In the bottom of the sixth, that “play free” mentality continued. Rodríguez legged out a grounder to beat out a double play, stole second just ahead of catcher Victor Caratini’s throw and got a massive jump on the very next pitch off Rafael Montero to swipe third, bringing his 2024 stolen base total up to 13.

“It’s fun to see him on base, too, because when he gets on base, it’s pretty electric,” Servais said. “He can steal bases and create some havoc out there.”

It’s the first time Rodríguez has tallied multiple hits and multiple steals in consecutive games in his career. In fact, it’s just the seventh time a Mariner has ever done it, and the first since 1986 by anyone not named Ichiro.

The only time Rodríguez came close previously was during his historic heater last August, when he did so twice in three days.

Of course, nobody in Seattle would have any complaints if Rodríguez found a similar groove as the calendar flips over into June.

“We need a big homestand from him, but it’s going really good right now,” Servais said.

And Rodríguez wasn’t the only one showing the signs Servais wanted to see Monday.

Bryce Miller, who had given up seven combined runs in the first inning across his past two starts, got back on the right foot at home, retiring 13 of the first 14 batters he faced before running into trouble in the fifth inning.

“I’m trying to go at everybody,” Miller said. “Home or away, there are a couple of guys you circle, just to try not make a pitch down the middle or make a mistake. But really no matter who it is, I’m trying to go at them and attack.”

The right-hander finished with two runs allowed on five hits and two walks, striking out six.

In his two starts on the Mariners’ East Coast swing, Miller mustered just 14 total whiffs. At home on Monday, where he has a 2.48 ERA, he notched 12 -- half with his fastball and half with offspeed.

“The fastball’s always going to be there,” Servais said of Miller. “But the secondary pitches, and being able to get those in play early in the game [and] get them established is really critical for him.”

Behind Miller, Servais got a near-perfect night from his bullpen. Trent Thornton allowed a single to Caratini in the top of the seventh but worked around it when he forced Jose Altuve to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Gabe Speier followed that with a perfect eighth -- his first full inning without allowing a run in over a month -- and Andrés Muñoz ripped through the ninth for his 11th save.

“They were effective, they were efficient,” Servais said. “They went right after them tonight against an Astros team that has a really good offense.

“Good way to start the homestand, and I’m excited to see all facets clicking in tonight.”