Watch: Julio’s 1st homer caps Mariners’ 5-run inning vs Astros

Game 2 of a four-game series against the Houston Astros took a bad turn early for the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night, but then a five-run rally capped by Julio Rodríguez’s first home run of the season made it a brand new ballgame.

Donovan out of Mariners’ lineup for 2nd straight game vs Astros

Second baseman Cole Young got the rally started in an o-2 count with the M’s down 7-2 with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, lining a changeup into right field for a single.

Dominic Canzone followed with a double into the right-center field gap and a walk to Leo Rivas loaded the bases.

J.P. Crawford took advantage of a hanging 2-2 sweeper from Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. and lined a two-run single into center field to cut Seattle’s deficit to 7-4, ending McCullers’ night after 4 1/3 innings.

Left-hander Steven Okert took over for Houston and allowed a broken-bat sac fly to Cal Raleigh to make 7-5.

Rodríguez stepped to the plate next and delivered the big blast, mashing a 1-2 slider over the fence in center field for a game-tying, two-run shot. The homer traveled 426 feet and came off the bat at 107.8 mph.

The Mariners went on to win 8-7 on J.P. Crawford’s walkoff single in the ninth.

Rodríguez’s homer was a welcomed sign for the Mariners. Not only was it his first homer of the season, but it was also just his second extra-base hit. His other extra-base hit came earlier in the game on a double down the left-field line in the first inning.

Rodríguez entered Saturday’s game hitting .148 (8 for 54) with a .394 OPS in 14 games.

Radio coverage of Saturday’s Mariners-Astros game can be heard on Seattle Sports 710 AM and the Seattle Sports app. 

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