Julio Rodríguez hits first home run since July 20 with two-run homer in Mariners' win over Rays

Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez ended a five-week drought Wednesday when he hit his first home run since July 20. Rodríguez hit a massive, two-run homer in the fifth inning to help the Mariners earn a 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Rodríguez's homer sent him and shortstop J.P. Crawford home to give Seattle a boost over the Rays. Crawford had returned to the lineup Wednesday after spending a month on injured list due to a right hand fracture.

Rodríguez, the 2022 AL Rookie of the Year, has struggled on offense this season. After recording 32 home runs and 103 RBI last year, he has only 12 homers and 42 RBI so far this season. He is also hitting .253, a career low, and he has 18 stolen bases, which lags behind his totals from the past two seasons.

Overall, the Mariners' offense has left much to be desired in 2024, with the team leading the league in strikeouts and holding the league low in hits. Seattle has depended on its strong starting rotation to stay in the playoff mix for much of the year, but subpar offensive production has come back to bite the team on several occasions this season.

The Mariners are still trying to recover from a disastrous 1-8 road trip that culminated with the decision to fire longtime manager Scott Servais. Seattle hired former catcher Dan Wilson as a replacement and added Hall of Famer Edgar Martinez as a hitting coach with the hopes of keeping their playoff chances alive.

Seattle once held a 10-game lead in the AL West but has since fallen behind the Houston Astros in the division. The Astros also won Wednesday, keeping the Mariners 3.5 games back.

Next for Seattle is a visit to the last-place Los Angeles Angels, while the Astros will take on the 75-59 Kansas City Royals at home.