Julio Rodríguez hits inside-the-park home run in Mariners 3-2 win vs. Guardians
Chris Flexen spins 5.0 strong innings in longest start of the spring for Seattle
PEORIA, Ariz. — The Mariners continued Cactus League play this evening, with a 3–2 win over the Cleveland Guardians at Peoria Stadium. Julio Rodríguez scored all three of the Mariners runs, including an inside-the-park home run in the seventh inning.
The Guardians jumped out to an early 1–0 lead with a solo home run in the top of the first inning, but that was the only scoring they would muster against Seattle starter Chris Flexen. Flexen finished his day having spun 5.0 innings, while allowing only the 1 run with no walks and 3 strikeouts. The 5.0 innings pitched were a spring-high by any Mariners pitcher this year.
Julio Rodríguez sparked the Mariners offense with his legs in the bottom of the third inning. He reached base on an infield single up the third base line and then stole second base to put himself in scoring position. Adam Frazier came through later in the inning with a 2-out single, scoring Rodríguez from second base to put the Mariners on the board, evening the score 1–1.
Rodríguez and Frazier also combined to score the Mariners second run of the game. Rodríguez led of the inning with a leadoff walk, and scored from third base on another single by Frazier to give the Mariners a 2–1 lead.
Cleveland evened the score, 2–2, with a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning, but Rodríguez quickly put the Mariners back on top, 3–2, in the bottom of the frame. With a high drive off the wall in right-center field, Julio blazed around the bases to score on an inside-the-park home run, his second home run of the spring.
Rodríguez was responsible for all three runs scored by the Mariners, going 2-for-2 with 3 runs scored. After tonight’s action, he is batting .360 on the spring.
Seattle travels to Salt River Fields at Talking Stick tomorrow night where they will take on the Colorado Rockies in a 6:40 pm first pitch. Right-handed pitcher Matt Brash is scheduled to get the start for Seattle, while the Guardians are expected to counter with left-handed pitcher Kyle Freeland.
