Rodríguez hits 3-run homer in 8th, Mariners beat Rangers 5-4 to spoil deGrom's return

SEATTLE (AP) — Julio Rodríguez hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning to help spoil Jacob deGrom’s return to the mound and send the Seattle Mariners to a 5-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Friday night.

Back after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2023, DeGrom left after 3 2/3 innings with a 2-0 lead and the Rangers had a 4-0 advantage.

Rodríguez began Seattle’s rally with a double in the seventh that set up two runs. Then in the next inning, he hit his 15th homer of the season to deep left field with two outs off David Robertson (3-4).

“I feel like that’s every player's dream,” Rodríguez said. “I feel like if you go across leagues and sports, as a player you want to be in the batter’s box in those moments.”

JT Chargois (3-1) struck out three in the eighth for the victory, and Andrés Muñoz struck out one in the ninth en route to his 21st save.

DeGrom struck out four and gave up four hits in his first game since April 2023, showing some of the speed and power that has made him a two-time Cy Young Award winner. He reached 98 mph occasionally, but left before finishing the third with two runners on base when he reached his pitch count.

“The last thing that I’m trying to figure out is my slider,” deGrom admitted. “You know, it’s not as consistent as it normally is.”

Texas built a 2-0 lead early, capitalizing on a costly Emerson Hancock mistake to start the game. Hancock hit leadoff batter Marcus Simien, who moved to third on Josh Smith’s single. Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Jung delivered two-out RBI singles for a 2-0 lead.

Wyatt Langford made it 3-0 with a solo home run off Hancock, his 11th of the season. Lowe added an RBI single in the seventh to make it 4-0.

DeGrom was having a fairly easy outing until the fourth when Josh Raley doubled and moved to third on Justin Turner’s single. Manager Bruce Bochy pulled deGrom one out later on his 61st pitch.

Reliever Walter Pennington ended the inning with a ground out. Seattle rallied in the seventh after reliever José Ureña hit Victor Robles to start the inning. He gave up a double to Rodríguez to put runners in scoring position and Cal Raleigh’s sacrifice fly and Randy Arozarena’s RBI single made it 4-2.

Rodríguez hit the field early for batting practice and was locked in all night, going 4 for 5 with three hits reaching 100 mph exit velocity.

“That home run was crushed,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “That was tremendous, that was a big blow right there. ... There aren’t many balls hit into that upper deck there. That was really launched.”

Though he has a third straight starter on a pitch count Saturday with Max Scherzer due back, Bochy said he wasn't worried about the bullpen.

“We have coverage tomorrow to help out Max,” Bochy said. “And we knew that we have to have that kind of coverage.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

The Rangers officially moved SS Corey Seager to the 60-day injured list. He will undergo season-ending sports hernia surgery.

ROSTER MOVE

To make space for deGrom on the roster, the Rangers optioned RHP Owen White to Triple-A Round Rock.

UP NEXT

Rangers RHP Scherzer (2-4, 3.89 ERA) was set to make his first start since July after a stint on the injured list because of shoulder and nerve pain in his right arm. RHP Logan Gilbert (7-11, 3.15) was scheduled to start for Seattle.

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Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker, facing, greets his father and Tennessee Titans defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, after his major league debut in a 5-4 win over the Seattle Mariners in a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Texas Rangers' Marcus Semien reaches third base after tagging from second on a sacrifice fly by Adolis Garcia in the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Seattle. (Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times via AP)

Texas Rangers first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, left, cannot pull down a throw from third baseman Josh Jung in the first inning, allowing Seattle Mariners' Victor Robles to reach first safely during a baseball game Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Seattle. (Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times via AP)

Texas Rangers' Nathaniel Lowe hits an RBI single in the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Seattle. (Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times via AP)

Texas Rangers' Jacob deGrom delivers against the Seattle Mariners during a baseball game Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Seattle. (Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times via AP)

With Texas Rangers runners on the corner, Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Emerson Hancock throws to Rangers' Nathaniel Lowe in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Seattle. (Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times via AP)

Seattle Mariners' Victor Robles tumbles past home after scoring on a Cal Raleigh sac fly during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Seattle, (Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times via AP)

Julio Rodriguez scores on the Randy Arozarena RBI single in the seventh. The Texas Rangers played the Seattle Mariners in Major League Baseball Friday, Sept. 13, 2024 at T-Mobile Park, in Seattle. (Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times via AP)

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez, right, gets a big hug from Justin Turner following his three-run homer in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, in Seattle, (Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso homered and drove in five runs, Luisangel Acuña added his first major league longball to cap a huge night at the plate, and the New York Mets routed the Washington Nationals 10-1 on Tuesday to boost their chances in a close National League playoff race.

Tylor Megill (4-5) provided another terrific outing in place of injured starter Paul Blackburn, and Francisco Alvarez also went deep as the Mets improved to 10-2 against Washington this year.

New York is tied with Arizona for the second of three NL wild cards, two games ahead of rival Atlanta for the league’s last postseason berth with 11 to play.

“I’m just really fired up because of the situation we’ve put ourselves in,” Alonso said, explaining his passionate address to teammates during a meeting Monday in the wake of Francisco Lindor’s injury last weekend. “We control our own destiny.”

A roar went up in the crowd of 24,932 at Citi Field when the out-of-town scoreboard showed Cincinnati had polished off a 6-5 comeback victory over the Braves.

“I didn’t know," Alonso said. "So someone told me that’s what they were cheering about, but I thought someone was just getting rowdy like, chugging beers or something like that. I mean, people do that.”

Jose Iglesias had three of New York's 14 hits and scored twice, batting leadoff with Lindor sidelined by a sore back. The 22-year-old Acuña, subbing for the MVP contender at shortstop, finished a triple shy of the cycle and scored three times from the No. 9 spot in his fourth big league game and second start.

“He's a true pro so far and that's awesome to see,” Alonso said.

Acuña, younger sibling of Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr., knocked in New York's first run with a double for his first career extra-base hit. He connected for a solo homer in the eighth to finish with his first two RBIs.

“That confidence comes from my brother,” the younger Acuña said through a translator.

He received a congratulatory text message from his big brother, and plans to put the souvenir ball from his first home run in a trophy case in the new house he's building.

“Excited. Proud of myself,” Acuña said. “I think this is something that I earned.”

Alonso also was a triple short of the cycle. He blooped a two-run single off shaky starter Mitchell Parker (7-10) with the bases loaded in a four-run third inning, then launched a three-run homer in the sixth.

Iglesias is batting .425 during an 11-game hitting streak.

Acuña's first career error helped the Nationals score an unearned run in the third, but Megill recovered. He permitted just two hits in six innings and retired his final 10 batters — after striking out nine over six shutout innings of one-hit ball at Toronto last time out on Sept. 9.

“We just couldn’t catch up to a fastball,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “The guy was throwing fastballs, and we were late. Bad combination.”

Touted rookie Dylan Crews had three of Washington's four hits.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams (left shoulder) was back in the leadoff spot after missing four games. ... 2B Luis García Jr. exited in the fourth with a sore right wrist. ... RHP Trevor Williams (flexor muscle strain) threw a bullpen and could be reinstated from his minor league rehab assignment to start this weekend in Chicago against the Cubs. ... OF Alex Call (partial tear of plantar fascia) has been taking flyballs at Citi Field. “If everything goes well, we might possibly send him out on a quick rehab,” Martinez said. “I know we're running out of time here, but I would like to get him back and get him in some games.”

Mets: Lindor was feeling better, manager Carlos Mendoza said, and still hopes to return this week. ... RHP Kodai Senga (left calf strain) threw another bullpen and went through some fielding drills. The team will wait to see how he feels Wednesday before announcing whether Senga's next step will be live batting practice, a minor league rehab game or another bullpen session. Senga hopes to come off the 60-day injured list next week — he becomes eligible on Sept. 25 — to provide even a few innings before the regular season ends. ... OF Brandon Nimmo was rested against the left-hander.

UP NEXT

Mets LHP Jose Quintana (9-9, 3.91 ERA) makes his 30th start of the season when he faces left-hander DJ Herz (4-7, 3.70) in the series finale Wednesday night.

Quintana has allowed one earned run in 25 innings over his last four starts, winning the past three. He threw 14 shutout innings in back-to-back starts against Washington in early July.

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Washington Nationals' Dylan Crews runs to second base for a double during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Washington Nationals' Dylan Crews hits a double during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Luisangel Acuña hits an RBI double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Washington Nationals' Mitchell Parker pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Tylor Megill pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Washington Nationals pitcher Mitchell Parker reacts as New York Mets' Francisco Alvarez runs the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso runs to second base for a double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Francisco Alvarez celebrates as he passes Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Luisangel Acuna tosses his bat as he runs the bases after hitting a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Luisangel Acuna hits a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso hits a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)