Julio Gets Hot as M's Use Comeback to Salvage Finale vs. Nats

The Seattle Mariners appeared on their way to a comfortable Sunday win but ended up needing some late-game heroics against to Nationals to end up salvaging the series.

May 26, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez (44) warms up before a game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports | Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Mariners beat the Washington Nationals on Sunday afternoon, 9-5, to salvage game three of the three-game set. With the win, Seattle is now 28-26 on the year. They completed the brutal 10-game road trip through the East Coast at 4-6. As we do after every game, here's how it happened:

The Overwhelming Story:

This game looked like it would end up being a comfortable win, as the M's led 4-0 after four innings, but the Nats chipped away to take a 5-4 lead after seven. The Mariners then scored five runs in the final two frames to re-take the lead. Julio Rodriguez, who homered on Saturday, finally looked like himself at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBI. The bullpen once again faltered, as Ryne Stanek allowed a three-run homer to CJ Abrams in that seventh inning for Washington.

The Big Plays:

Rodriguez hit his second home run in as many games, which now gives him four for the season.

to: the bullpen

from: JULIOOOOO pic.twitter.com/0z6ijDYCUJ

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) May 26, 2024

Ty France hit his sixth homer of the season, this moonshot to left field, which made it 4-0 in the fourth.

Ty's turn 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/4Ag0iGEZbI

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) May 26, 2024

Abrams's shot made it 5-4 Nationals in the seventh inning. It came off Stanek, who had replaced Bryan Woo.

ALIEN IN ORBIT pic.twitter.com/H1Pd9Inb7D

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 26, 2024

Rodriguez and France then gave the M's the lead right back in the eighth, before Andres Munoz shut the door in the ninth.

Back on 🔝 pic.twitter.com/GqHyL2oTJu

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) May 26, 2024

Odds and Ends:

Jorge Polanco left the game with right hamstring issues...Austin Voth got the win, moving to 2-0...The M's will play the Astros for a four-game series in Seattle beginning Monday.

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— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) May 25, 2024— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 25, 2024