Seattle Mariners Take ALCS Game 2 Lead on Julio HR

The Seattle Mariners are certainly showing no signs of fatigue after a 15-inning marathon and another critical playoff game less than 48 hours later.

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A day after the Mariners traveled to Toronto on little rest and won Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, Julio Rodríguez gave the M’s a 3-0 lead in Game 2 before recording their first takedown with a powerful hit early in an eventual 10-3 victory in Seattle.

Rodríguez unloaded on a hanging splitter from Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage, blasting a 369-foot three-run homer into the left field seats.

Rodríguez’s big hit was the first hit allowed by Yesavage in the postseason. The 22-year-old rookie from Toronto pitched 5 1/3 hitless innings of shutout baseball in the Blue Jays’ Game 2 AL Division Series victory over the New York Yankees.

It was also the first home run allowed by Yesavage as a big league pitcher. The 2024 first-round pick made three regular-season starts for Toronto before making the playoff roster and starting one ALDS game. His splitter had been his toughest pitch with hitters hitting just .111 (2-for-18) with 10 strikeouts and a 57.1% whiff rate against him in the regular season.

Here’s how it sounded during the Mariners Radio Network call on Seattle Sports by longtime M broadcaster Rick Rizzs.

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Leadoff batter Randy Arozarena was hit by a pitch and Cal Raleigh drew a walk to set up Rodríguez’s three-run homer.

The Seattle center fielder now has two homers and six RBIs through his team’s first seven playoff games.

The Mariners lead the best-of-seven ALCS 2-0 after Monday’s win.

More Seattle Mariners ALCS coverage

• Salk: The secret to Bryce Miller’s dominant ALCS start for the Mariners
• Instant reaction to the Seattle Mariners’ massive win in Game 1 of the ALCS
• Polanco plays hero again in Mariners’ first ALCS win
• Cal Raleigh burns the Blue Jays again with HR #62 in ALCS Game 1
• Complete ALCS Schedule: Seattle Mariners vs. Toronto Blue Jays

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