The Spiel: J-Rod’s first big league hit sparks Mariners come back

By Jessica Roberts on April 9, 2022

Julio Rodriguez spent the majority of Saturday afternoon’s contest getting absolutely jobbed by the umpire on the strike zone. And with his club down 3-2 at the top of the ninth inning it seemed likely that Seattle was about to fall to .500 on the season. But the rookie wasn’t willing to give-up just yet as he took a shallow line drive into the gap and stretch it into a double that completely changed the complexion of the game.

SAVE THAT BALL.

First major league hit for Julio Rodriguez!

(via @mlb)pic.twitter.com/R8vAaSYbF2
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 9, 2022

Let’s take a quick look at where that 2-2 pitch ended up, because that was the spot a closer really shouldn’t be giving up a pitch…even to a rookie.

It was a line drive that seemed like it was headed for the fence, but Twins center fielder Byron Buxton — who had hit a two-run home run to give his club a lead in the eighth — has wheels and was able to get in front of the ball before it got to the warning track.

Advertisements

Buxton has a canon for an arm but it didn’t matter as the 22-year-old super prospect was easily able to coast into second, sans helmet, for a leadoff double. JP Crawford followed that up with a groundout to first that advanced Rodriguez to third. And it was now time for Adam Frazier to come up big for the first time as a Seattle Mariner.

Adam Frazier has his first big Mariners moment then Ty France gives them a lead! pic.twitter.com/2qCpKxR2gP
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 9, 2022

That was a peak Adam Frazier at bat as he also stretched knocked the ball towards the left-center field gap. What was a-typical was that he too stretched into a double despite the fact that the throw beat him to the bag.

I’m still completely and utterly flummoxed on how Frazier was able to get around the tag. It’s obvious that Carlos Correa missed the tag, but that was primarily down to Seattle’s second baseman showing some impressive dexterity than anything the short stop did.