Julio Rodriguez's 2-run HR lifts Mariners over Athletics 2-1

SEATTLE (AP) — Julio Rodríguez hit a towering 438-foot, two-run homer in the sixth to give Seattle the lead and Bryan Woo pitched six dominant innings and the Mariners beat the Athletics 2-1 on Sunday.

Rodríguez’s go-ahead home run gave the Mariners offense a much-needed boost. Before Rodríguez stepped to the plate, A’s starter J.P. Sears had retired 16 of the previous 18 Seattle hitters, with the Mariners managing just three singles.

Sears (0-1) allowed two runs and five hits over 6 ⅔ innings, with no walks and seven strikeouts.

Tyler Soderstrom put the A’s ahead in the fourth with a homer, his third of the series. But that was all the offense the Athletics got against Woo (1-0), who allowed just three hits and one run over six innings, with five strikeouts.

Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz pitched the ninth inning for his second save as the AL West rivals split the four-game series.

Rodríguez's homer gave Seattle’s offense the jolt it needed, and brought the crowd to its feet after an uninspiring start at the plate for the Mariners.

Seattle hadn't advanced a runner past first base before Rodriguez hit the ball into the left-field bleachers.

Seattle relievers Gregory Santos, Trent Thornton, and Munoz combined to allow just one hit over the final three innings, which came on a ninth-inning single from Soderstrom.

Joey Estes will pitch on Monday for the A’s in their home opener at Sutter Health Park against the Chicago Cubs, while Emerson Hancock will pitch for the Mariners against Detroit, which will start Jackson Jobe.

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Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford forces out Athletics' Miguel Andujar (22) at second base and makes the throw to first for the double play on Tyler Soderstrom during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo walks back to the dugout after facing the Athletics during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez smiles as he jogs home after hitting a two-run home run against the Athletics during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez reacts as he crosses home after hitting a two-run home run as Athletics catcher Jhonny Pereda, left, looks on during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez celebrates with the trident in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run against the Athletics during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez follows through on a two-run home run against the Athletics during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Two U.S. border inspectors in Southern California have been charged with taking thousands of dollars in bribes to allow people to enter the country through the nation's busiest port of entry without showing documents, prosecutors said.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers Farlis Almonte and Ricardo Rodriguez were assigned to immigration inspection booths at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. They were charged after investigators found phone evidence showing they had exchanged messages with human traffickers in Mexico and discovered unexplained cash deposits into their bank accounts, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Thursday.

Surveillance video showed at least one instance in which a vehicle with a driver and a passenger stopped at a checkpoint but only the driver was documented as having entered the country, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said the officers waved dozens of vehicles carrying people without documents. They said both men were paid thousands for each vehicle they waved through.

It wasn't immediately known if Almonte has an attorney who can speak on his behalf.

Rodriguez’s attorney, Michael Hawkins, said the case was still in the “infant stages” and that Rodriguez has the presumption of innocence.

"We look forward to working through the current situation,” Hawkins said in an email in which he described Rodriguez as hardworking and loyal.

The investigation on Almonte and Rodriguez started after three migrant smugglers who were arrested last year told federal investigators they had been working with U.S. border inspectors, federal prosecutors said.

While Almonte was in custody, investigators allegedly seized nearly $70,000 in cash they believe his romantic partner was trying to move to Tijuana. Prosecutors wrote in a court filing that Almonte is potentially facing additional charges for money laundering and obstruction of justice, The San Diego Union Tribune reported.

“Any Customs and Border Protection agent who aids or turns a blind eye to smugglers bringing undocumented immigrants into the U.S. is betraying their oath and endangering our national security,” Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden told the newspaper in a statement.

There have been five U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to the San Diego area to face similar corruption charges in the last two years.

Last year, former U.S. border inspector Leonard Darnell George was sentenced to 23 years in prison for taking bribes to allow people and drug-laden vehicles to enter the country through the San Ysidro border crossing. Two other former border officers at the Otay Mesa and Tecate ports of entry were charged last year with similar charges. They are expected to go on trial this summer.

The story has been updated to remove a reference to the National Border Patrol Council, which does not represent Customs and Border Protection officers.

FILE - Vehicles wait in line to cross the border into the United States at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Tijuana, Mexico. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)