Julio Rodriguez hit a home run again, this time driving in three runs in the seventh inning and representing the go-ahead for the Seattle Mariners, who completed their sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 4-2 victory on Wednesday.
A day earlier, the 21-year-old Dominican rookie, who has caused a sensation this season, opened the game by hitting a home run.
That was his first swing since the All-Star Game, since he had suffered a sore left wrist, which he had injured in Texas, during the last game before the break.
Rodríguez had an outstanding performance in the Home Run Derby before the All-Star Game, where he hit 81 homers.
Wednesday’s homer was his 18th of the season, and it came with one out off starter Jon Gray (7-5), who had allowed one run on four hits to that point.
The 416-foot blast put the ball into the left-field bullpen and erased a 2-1 deficit.
It was the game-ending hit for Gray, who totaled eight strikeouts and four walks.
Marco Gonzales (6-10) started the game for Seattle and allowed no hit by the Rangers for the first four innings.
For the Rangers, Cuban Adolis Garcia 3-1 with a run scored. Dominicans Leody Taveras 4-1, Ezequiel Durán 3-0, Elier Hernández 2-1 with a run scored.
For the Mariners, the Dominicans Rodríguez 4-1 with one run scored and three produced, Carlos Santana 4-0. The Venezuelans Eugenio Suárez 4-0, Luis Torrens 2-0.
