Rodriguez’s key hit powers M’s 14th straight win

ARLINGTON, Texas — Julio Rodriguez and Ty France are headed to the All-Star Recreation, so they will not be among the many Seattle Mariners getting the break their supervisor says they want.

Yeah, Scott Servais is aware of that time-off factor sounds a little bit humorous. “It is exhausting to say you want a break while you win 14 video games in a row,” the Seattle skipper mentioned after a 6-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Sunday.

Certain is.

Rodriguez hit a two-run double and France homered after becoming a member of the rookie sensation on the American League group because the Mariners moved nearer to the group document of 15 consecutive wins. That streak got here throughout their most up-to-date playoff season in 2001, once they went 116-46.

Seattle is now 51-42 and only a 1/2 recreation again of the Tampa Bay Rays for the highest wild-card spot. They’re 9 video games again of the Astros for the AL West division lead.

The 14-game profitable streak is the longest going into an All-Star break in main league historical past.

“I believe it will be good for us to sort of let our our bodies get well,” France mentioned. “There’s loads of guys in that locker room, they play daily, they’re enjoying harm, they’re enjoying banged up. These subsequent couple of days shall be good for them and hopefully we are able to simply preserve that rolling.”

Cal Raleigh’s two-run homer put the Mariners forward for good within the fourth inning as they matched the reigning World Sequence champion Atlanta Braves’ June streak for the longest this season. St. Louis had a 17-game profitable streak final 12 months.

Rodriguez, who wasn’t even six months previous the final time the Mariners have been on a streak this lengthy 21 years in the past, lined a double off the wall in left-center discipline within the seventh, then raced house on France’s single for a 6-1 lead.

The 21-year-old from the Dominican Republic was barely hitting .200 and did not have any of his 16 homers on Could 1. Now Rodriguez is the primary rookie All-Star for the Mariners since Ichiro Suzuki in — you guessed it — 2001.

“This can be a stretch we’re in, I do not suppose anyone will ever neglect it,” Servais mentioned. “However what a option to finish the primary half.”

Raleigh pulled a two-out, two-run homer down the road in proper discipline for his thirteenth homer, erasing a 1-0 deficit because the Mariners gained for the twenty second time in 25 video games and swept a fourth consecutive collection for the primary time since 2001.

France’s solo shot within the fifth, his eleventh homer, got here a few hours after the primary baseman was added to the AL All-Star group. Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout was sidelined by again spasms for Tuesday’s recreation at Dodger Stadium.

“It had sort of gotten to the purpose the place that sort of hope was out the window,” mentioned France, whose two hits boosted his common to .308. “I used to be preparing for the sport, and all of it went down.”

Servais mentioned the addition of France was overdue as one of many final replacements, however each agreed it was higher late than by no means. Plus, Rodriguez, who declined to speak to reporters after the sport, has firm.

“Julio mentioned he wanted somebody to babysit him,” Servais mentioned. “So Ty may have his work reduce out for him.”

Marcus Semien’s twelfth homer, a solo drive, put Texas forward within the third earlier than the Rangers have been swept in a four-game collection for the primary time this 12 months whereas matching their season worst at eight video games below .500 (41-49).

“We want a couple of days off, sort of accumulate our ideas,” supervisor Chris Woodward mentioned. “Let our our bodies relaxation a little bit bit. The fellows are drained. They have been preventing to the top.”

With Seattle main 2-1 within the fourth, reliever Ryan Borucki (2-0) walked his first two batters to load the bases with two outs earlier than getting rookie leadoff hitter Josh Smith on a groundout. The left-hander retired Semien, All-Star Corey Seager and Nathaniel Lowe so as within the fifth.

Texas starter Glenn Otto (4-6) dropped to 0-4 in 5 begins since spending 15 days on the COVID-19 listing. The proper-hander stayed in after getting hit on the correct facet and arm by the barrel of Eugenio Suárez’s damaged bat within the second, permitting three runs in six innings.

Mariners right-hander Chris Flexen gave up a run in 3 2/3 innings after beginning on three days’ relaxation for the primary time in his profession. Paul Sewald, the final of six Seattle pitchers, labored a scoreless ninth after a leadoff stroll.

The Related Press contributed to this story.