Julio Rodriguez Homers Twice Mariners Beat Rangers 8 2 To Stay In Wild Card Hunt

Julio Rodríguez Homers Twice, Mariners Beat Rangers 8-2 to Stay in Wild-Card Hunt

Rodriguez's Two Home Runs Help Mariners Stay Alive in Wild-Card Race

Julio Rodríguez hit two home runs, including a go-ahead, three-run shot in the sixth inning, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 8-2 on Tuesday night to stay in the thick of the AL wild-card race.

Rodríguez, who now has 25 home runs this season, also singled and scored in the first inning. His second home run, off reliever Brock Burke (3-3), gave Seattle a 5-2 lead.

Logan Gilbert (13-6) allowed one run on five hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out seven.

The Mariners have won three of their last four games and are now 73-59, one game behind the Baltimore Orioles for the third and final wild-card spot.

The Rangers have lost four straight and are now 63-70.

Kirby Beats Rangers Again

Marco Gonzales followed Gilbert and allowed one run on four hits in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked one.

Diego Castillo pitched a perfect ninth to finish the game.

Kirby has now allowed just two runs in 13 1/3 innings against the Rangers this season.

Mariners Stay in Wild-Card Hunt

With the win, the Mariners kept pace with the Orioles, who beat the Chicago White Sox 8-3 on Tuesday night.

The Mariners have 30 games remaining in the regular season, including 19 against teams with losing records.

The Rangers have 29 games remaining, including 18 against teams with winning records.