Julio Rodríguez hit a huge milestone on Sunday, helping the Seattle Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 5-4. The star outfielder hit his 100th career home run and made Major League Baseball history by becoming the first player ever to have 20 or more home runs and 20 or more stolen bases in each of his first four seasons.
Rodríguez Shines with Bat and Speed
In the third inning, Rodríguez hit a two-run homer, putting the Mariners in the lead. That homer marked his 100th in the big leagues. Later in the fifth inning, he singled and stole his 21st base of the season, showing off his speed once again.
Rodríguez is known not just for his power but also for how fast and smart he is on the bases. This rare mix of skills puts him in a special category of baseball players.
Mariners’ Offense Powers Through
The Mariners also got home runs from Jorge Polanco in the second inning and J.P. Crawford in the fourth. Both hits came against Rangers ace Jacob deGrom, who gave up three homers in a single game for the first time since 2022 when he was still with the New York Mets.
Despite the tough day, deGrom reached a major milestone himself. He became the fastest pitcher in MLB history to reach 1,800 career strikeouts, doing it in fewer games and innings than anyone before him.
Rangers Try to Fight Back
Texas didn’t give up easily. They scored three runs off Mariners starter Logan Evans, who still managed to get his fifth win of the season. The Rangers added one more run off the bullpen, but Seattle closer Andrés Muñoz shut things down in the ninth to earn his 25th save of the year.
One dramatic moment came in the ninth when Sam Haggerty tried to steal second base. He was called safe at first, but after a video review, the call was overturned. Wyatt Langford struck out next, ending the game.
What’s Next for the Teams?
The Mariners get a day off on Monday before they head to Chicago, where Bryan Woo (8-6, 3.11 ERA) will start against the White Sox on Tuesday. The Rangers face the New York Yankees on Monday night with left-hander Patrick Corbin (6-7, 3.78 ERA) set to take the mound.
Julio Rodríguez continues to break records and lead the Mariners to important wins. With his mix of power and speed, he’s already making a name for himself in MLB history.
The Mariners’ strong hitting and steady pitching helped secure the close victory, while the Rangers will look to bounce back in their next series. With stars like Rodríguez and deGrom on the field, baseball fans can expect plenty more excitement as the season rolls on.
