SEATTLE (Interstat) — Julio Rodríguez hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the seventh inning, and the Seattle Mariners rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Thursday afternoon at T-Mobile Park. Seattle improved to 69-78, while Texas dropped to 72-75. Logan Gilbert earned the win and improved to 12-9, Jakob Junis took the loss and fell to 1-3, and Andrés Muñoz recorded his 27th save. The game lasted 2 hours, 30 minutes and drew 24,784.

Jacob deGrom delivered a dominant start for Texas. The Rangers right-hander was perfect through five innings and did not allow a baserunner until Cole Young’s single in the sixth. DeGrom finished six scoreless innings, allowing one hit, walking none and striking out 12. It was a season high for deGrom and the most strikeouts of his Texas tenure. He struck out eight batters in the first three innings and left with the Rangers ahead 3-0.

DeGrom opened with a strikeout of J.P. Crawford, then fanned Randy Arozarena on a foul tip and Dominic Canzone swinging in the first. He struck out the side again in the second, retiring Cal Raleigh, Rodríguez and Josh Naylor around a groundout. In the third, he struck out Cole Young, Lazaro Montes and Brock Rodden in order, giving him eight strikeouts through three innings. He added two more in the fifth and two in the sixth. Seattle’s only baserunner against him came on Young’s single in the sixth.

Logan Gilbert matched deGrom for much of the night. The Mariners right-hander worked seven innings, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out 11, also a season high. Gilbert gave up a two-run homer to Joc Pederson in the third and an RBI single to Nicky Lopez in the fifth. The two starters combined for 23 strikeouts, the most by opposing starting pitchers in a game since Aug. 12, 2024.

Gilbert began with a strikeout of Pederson and ended the first by fanning Ezequiel Duran. He struck out the side in the second, getting Brandon Nimmo, Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter. After Pederson’s homer in the third, Gilbert struck out Seager to end the inning. He added two strikeouts in the fourth and two more in the sixth. He also worked around a walk in the seventh, keeping the Rangers from adding to their lead.

The early innings were almost entirely about pitching. Texas went down in order in the first, with Pederson and Duran striking out around a Seager groundout. Seattle answered with three strikeouts in the bottom half, as deGrom fanned Crawford, Arozarena and Canzone. Gilbert then struck out the side in the second, while deGrom matched him by punching out Raleigh and Rodríguez before Naylor grounded out. The Rangers finally broke through in the third, but Gilbert limited the damage with a strikeout to end the inning.

Texas built its lead with early pressure. In the third, Nicky Lopez singled to center, and Joc Pederson followed with his 26th home run, a two-run drive to right-center that made it 2-0. Seager was called out on strikes after a pitch-result challenge, ending the inning. The Rangers added another run in the fifth when Evan Carter was hit by a pitch, Jake Burger walked and Lopez dropped a bunt single that scored Carter. A sacrifice bunt and a pair of plays at the plate ended the inning, but Texas had a 3-0 cushion.

Seattle’s first hit came in the sixth, when Young’s comebacker deflected off deGrom and landed behind the mound. DeGrom then struck out Montes and Rodden before retiring Crawford on a fly ball to center. Texas remained in front 3-0 after six.

The Mariners broke through in the seventh. Randy Arozarena was hit by a pitch to open the inning. Dominic Canzone followed with a single to left, scoring Arozarena for Seattle’s first run. Cal Raleigh then lined a single to center, moving Canzone to second. Rodríguez stepped in and lined his 21st home run to left-center, a three-run shot that scored Canzone and Raleigh and gave Seattle a 4-3 lead. Naylor and Montes struck out around a Young flyout as the Mariners completed the rally.

Texas bullpen arms kept the Rangers close after the seventh. Robert Garcia pitched a scoreless inning without allowing a hit and struck out two. Robby Ahlstrom also worked a scoreless inning without allowing a hit, struck out two and intentionally walked Arozarena during a scoreless eighth. Gabe Speier struck out two and allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth for Seattle. Muñoz then closed the door in the ninth.

The Rangers threatened in the ninth when Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter drew walks. Jake Burger grounded into a force out, with Carter retired at second. Texas challenged the force play, but the call was upheld, ending the game. Muñoz finished a scoreless inning without allowing a hit. Seattle put a runner in scoring position in the eighth when Crawford’s sacrifice bunt moved Victor Robles to second, but Canzone and Raleigh struck out to end the inning.

Nicky Lopez went 2 for 2 with an RBI and a run scored for Texas. Pederson went 1 for 3 with a two-run homer. Carter went 0 for 2 but reached on a hit by pitch and scored. Rodríguez went 1 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs for Seattle. Canzone and Raleigh each had hits and scored during the decisive seventh.

Texas batters finished with four hits, and Seattle batters also had four. Texas pitchers combined for 30 strikes, 44 balls and 30 balls in play. Seattle pitchers combined for 22 strikes, 34 balls and 22 balls in play. The Rangers will continue their road trip at Arizona on Friday. The Mariners are scheduled to open a series at the Athletics on Friday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Texas 4, Seattle 3. Its ELO system had given Seattle a 52.3 percent probability to win. Seattle had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5.