Watch: Julio cranks HR off Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal

Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez made headlines Friday morning when it was announced he would not participate in next week’s All-Star Game. He made headlines again later in the day for much more encouraging reasons.

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Rodríguez ended a streak of 16 straight games without a home run during the Mariners’ series opener against the Detroit Tigers, and he did it against the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner.

Rodríguez tagged a two-strike changeup from Tigers ace Tarik Skubal for a two-run home run to left-center field with two outs in the top of the fifth inning, giving the Mariners a 4-1 lead. The blast traveled 416 feet and came off the bat at 109.6 mph.

It was Rodríguez’s 12th home run this season and brought his RBI total to 46. He last homered on June 23 at the Minnesota Twins.

It was also a bit of revenge for the center fielder. He had struck out on changeup from Skubal in his previous at-bat.

While it wasn’t Skubal’s best changeup (he left hanging high in the middle of the plate), it was the first time he allowed a home run off of it this season. Batters entered Friday hitting just .158 off Skubal’s changeup, which is his most-used pitch.

Rodríguez’s home run ultimately helped the Mariners chase Skubal after five innings. Skubal, a Seattle U product, has pitched at least six innings in 13 of his 19 starts this year. Two of the six times he has not have now come against the Mariners.

More on the Seattle Mariners

• Mariners Roster Move: Lefty returns to bullpen
• Mariners’ Julio Rodríguez makes statement on missing All-Star Game
• Brock & Salk: A word stands out in Julio’s All-Star decision
• Cal Raleigh thinks Andrés Muñoz tipped pitches in loss to Yankees
• Ranking the nine Mariners’ draft classes of the Dipoto era

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