Mariners’ Star Julio Rodríguez Exits Game with Ankle Injury
In a thrilling match between the Seattle Mariners and the Houston Astros, Mariners’ star Julio Rodríguez left the game on Sunday due to an ankle injury sustained after a violent collision with the outfield wall. Rodríguez, a two-time All-Star, attempted to make a play on a deep fly ball off the bat of Yordan Álvarez, but crashed into the wall and dropped the ball at the warning track.
According to manager Scott Servais, X-rays were negative, and the injury was diagnosed as a “little bit of an ankle sprain.” However, a timeline for Rodríguez’s return was not initially clear. Rodríguez spent several moments on the ground before standing up and being helped off the field by a trainer. He was able to limp off the field while putting weight on his right foot but did not return to the game.
The injury occurred in the top of the sixth inning, and Álvarez reached third base on the play for an RBI triple that cut Seattle’s lead to 3-2. Álvarez went on to hit a double in the eighth inning to complete a cycle.
Rodríguez, 23, was the 2021 AL Rookie of the Year and made the All-Star team in his first two MLB seasons. He’s off to a relatively slow start this season after averaging 30 home runs and hitting.275 or better in his first two seasons. In 99 games before Sunday, Rodríguez was slashing.265/.317/.375 with nine home runs, 37 RBI, and 18 stolen bases. He’d picked up the pace recently, with five multi-hit games and four home runs in his previous 12 outings.
The Mariners are in a battle with the Astros atop the AL West, and they’re tied for first place following Sunday’s victory.
