Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez extends historic hot streak after breaking a 1925 record
Julio Rodríguez is on a hot streak.
The Seattle Mariners outfielder had his 18th hit in five games when he opened Sunday's contest against the Houston Astros with a double.
In Saturday's matchup, which the Mariners won 10-3, Rodríguez made history with four hits. A single in the seventh inning gave him 17 hits in four games. According to MLB.com, this passes Milt Stock of the Brooklyn Robins (now Los Angeles Dodgers), who had 16 hits in as many games in 1925. It was also the Seattle star's fourth straight game with four hits.
“Honestly, I knew when they put it on the scoreboard that I had set a record for a four-game span,” Rodríguez, 22, said. “Before that, I didn't know.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” manager Scott Servais said. “Nobody in the history of Major League Baseball has seen anything like it. But what can you say? Julio is just smoking hot right now.”
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Rodríguez is 18-for-23 dating back to Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Kansas City Royals. On Thursday, he went a perfect 5-for-5 with a game-winning three-run home run in the 6-4 victory. He also has five stolen bases in that span. He's batting .278 on the season with 21 home runs and 33 stolen bases.
After a 13-3 stretch, the Mariners are in position to claim the third and final wild-card spot in the American League. They sit a half game ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Rodríguez appeared in his second All-Star game this summer, which was held in Seattle. He also participated in his second consecutive Home Run Derby, where he set a record with 41 blasts in the first round.