Julio Rodríguez & Randy Arozarena led the Mariners to a 3-2 win over the Royals on July 3, 2025. See how their clutch hits kept Seattle in the Wild Card hunt.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
In a game that felt every bit as important as its place in the standings suggested, the Seattle Mariners found their heroes late. Julio Rodríguez delivered a go-ahead infield single in the seventh inning and the red-hot Randy Arozarena stayed scorching, powering the M's to a tense 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park, keeping them right in the thick of the AL Wild Card hunt.
Randy Arozarena has homered in three consecutive regular-season games for the first time in his MLB career.
The game was a classic pitcher's duel for six innings, with Mariners starter Bryan Woo delivering a gem. Woo went six strong, allowing just one run and keeping Seattle in the fight. But the real drama unfolded in the seventh. With the score knotted 1-1, Julio Rodríguez legged out a tough infield single, scoring Ben Williamson to break the tie. Moments later, Randy Arozarena lofted a sacrifice fly to tack on what would become the winning run. Carlos Vargas picked up the win in relief, and Andrés Muñoz shut the door for his 19th save of the season.
The story of the week continues to be Randy Arozarena. He blasted his 12th home run of the season early in the game, marking the third straight contest he's gone deep. It's a career first for Arozarena in the regular season and a clear sign that he has found his power stroke. His bat has become the engine of this offense, providing the consistent thump the Mariners needed to turn close games into wins.
As the team preps for the Fourth of July series finale, the front office made several moves to manage the pitching staff. Right-hander Logan Evans is being called up from Tacoma to start Thursday's game, a strategic decision to give the rest of the rotation an extra day of rest. To make room and bolster the bullpen, lefty Joe Jacques was selected from Triple-A, while Emerson Hancock was optioned to Tacoma and Zach Pop was sent outright. These moves signal a clear focus on managing innings and keeping arms fresh for the stretch run.
With the win secured and the pitching staff recalibrated, all eyes now turn to the series finale against the Royals. The Mariners will hand the ball to rookie Logan Evans for his first start, a move designed to keep the rotation fresh for the grueling second half. Securing a series win tomorrow would be a massive boost as the team continues to battle for every inch in a crowded American League Wild Card picture.
