SEATTLE -- Julio Rodríguez needed just one swing Sunday afternoon to make history in multiple ways.
The 24-year-old star drove a center-cut slider from Jacob deGrom -- who one inning earlier had become the fastest pitcher to 1,800 career strikeouts -- out to right-center field in the third inning of Seattle’s 5-4 win over the Rangers, putting the Mariners ahead with his 100th career home run.
The blast made Rodríguez -- who entered the day with 20 steals -- the first player in MLB history to begin his career with four consecutive 20/20 seasons. He’s the third player to reach triple-digits in both home runs and steals in his first four seasons, joining Bobby Bonds and Darryl Strawberry.
He’s the 17th player to reach 100 career home runs with the Mariners.
Nine of Rodríguez’s homers have come since July 11, giving the Mariners hopes of seeing another late-summer surge for their center fielder, who entered the day with a .251/.307/.429 slash line. Since becoming a Major Leaguer in 2022, Rodríguez has a .259 average and a .745 OPS between Opening Day and the end of July, but from Aug. 1 onward, those numbers jump to .309 and .915, respectively.
Rodríguez also made his standard impact on defense Sunday, going back to track down a 103.6 mph laser off the bat of Josh Smith at the wall in center field to help protect a 5-3 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, he swiped his 21st base of the season after hitting a single through the left side to show off his complete toolbox.
The result gave the Mariners the win in their four-game set against the Rangers to push their AL Wild Card lead over Texas to two games, and moves them to within 2 1/2 of Houston in the AL West race.