Julio Rodríguez hit a home run during batting practice at Daikin Park on May 12 after a challenge from an Astros fan, then repeated the feat in the game to help lead the Seattle Mariners to a 3-1 victory over Houston. The win marked Seattle’s eighth consecutive triumph against their division rivals.
The exchange began when a fan challenged Rodríguez to hit a batting practice homer off the Lexus sign above Houston’s Crawford Boxes. After successfully hitting the target, Rodríguez said, “I put a good swing on it, and it literally hit the Lexus sign, right in the middle. And I literally walked out of the cage and said, ‘Give me your shoes!’ It was funny.”
Rodríguez’s in-game home run traveled 414 feet and nearly reached Houston’s train tracks beyond left field. It was his seventh homer of the season, just one behind teammate Luke Raley for the team lead. He credited his approach during batting practice for helping him focus: “Honestly, when I’m hitting BP,” Rodríguez said, “what I really like is to just kind of really feel like I’m driving the ball — on time, behind it, not really rushing my swing. So it’s kind of like thinking a little bit more. Like, try to have more thoughtful swings.”
After winning the pregame wager—a pair of flip flops—the Mariners outfielder returned them before first pitch and took a photo with the fan as part of their good-natured interaction. “I kind of felt like sad for him, because he looked a little sad walking up the stairs,” Rodríguez said. “And I just said, ‘Man, just walk up and down the aisle, and then whenever you go back down, I will give you your slides.’ That was funny.”
Manager Dan Wilson considered challenging an earlier foul ball by Rodríguez that narrowly missed being another solo homer but ultimately decided against it.
Rodríguez’s performance stands out amid what has otherwise been an inconsistent start for Seattle this season. After going two-for-four at bat during Monday’s game, his statistics are closely aligned with his career averages.
