After batting just .202 in April, Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez has regrouped in May.
Rodriguez has hit safely in seven straight games and 11 of 12 entering the Mariners’ Tuesday road game against the Chicago White Sox.
The two-time All-Star belted an eighth-inning grand slam on Monday to break things open in Seattle’s series-opening 5-1 win.
“I guess it says my swing is feeling good, so I’m just trying to continue to build on that and bring it on for the next day,” Rodriguez said.
Seattle stands atop the American League West thanks in part to a resilient lineup. Third baseman Ben Williamson delivered a three-hit game on Monday. He had collected only two hits in 19 at-bats (.105) over his previous six games.
The Mariners also have hovered around the top third of the major leagues with a 3.66 ERA, and closer Andres Munoz leads the American League with 15 saves.
Seattle pitching retired 17 White Sox batters in a row during one stretch Monday night.
Chicago shortstop Chase Meidroth stood on either side of the dubious streak. The rookie leadoff hitter delivered a one-out single in the third inning before coaxing a walk to open the ninth.
Meidroth is batting .286 over 84 at-bats and totes a seven-game hitting streak (11-for-27, .407) into Tuesday night.
“You don’t see too many guys that come up and hit the ground running,” Chicago outfielder Michael A. Taylor said. “But he has, and it’s a product of a very mature approach.”
Acquired from the Boston organization in an offseason trade that sent left-hander Garrett Crochet to the Red Sox, Meidroth has shown consistency despite the latest White Sox slump.
Chicago enters on a five-game losing streak, its fourth skid this season of at least four games. While the visiting White Sox were outscored 26-8 in a weekend sweep at the hand of the crosstown rival Chicago Cubs, Meidroth led off each game with a hit.
“He’s definitely sparked the top of the lineup,” Chicago right-hander Sean Burke said. “He’s making at-bats difficult to start the game.”
Fellow right-hander Bryse Wilson (0-2, 6.00 ERA) is set to start for the White Sox on Tuesday. Wilson, who made 10 of his first 11 appearances as a reliever this year, is 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA in three May starts. He allowed seven runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings in a road loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday.
Wilson is 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in two career appearances against Seattle, a pair of relief outings covering 4 2/3 innings.
The Mariners expect to add right-hander Casey Lawrence to the roster before the Tuesday game, and he might get the start. Seattle manager Dan Wilson said “we’ll go from there” once Lawrence rejoins the mix.
Lawrence (1-1, 4.97 ERA) signed a minor league deal with the Mariners this month. He began the season with Seattle and joined Toronto via waivers but chose free agency after the Blue Jays removed him from their 40-man roster.
Lawrence is 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA in two lifetime relief outings (3 1/3 innings) against the White Sox.
–Field Level Media
