The Seattle Mariners produced a dramatic late comeback Thursday, overcoming an outstanding performance from Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom to secure a 4-3 victory and strengthen their position in the American League postseason race.
For much of the night, it appeared the Rangers were firmly in control. DeGrom was nearly untouchable through the opening five innings, retiring his first 15 hitters and piling up strikeouts at an impressive rate. But Seattle refused to go quietly, eventually breaking through against Texas’ bullpen in the seventh inning.
Julio Rodriguez delivered the biggest blow of the night, launching a three-run homer that suddenly put the Mariners ahead. The blast capped a four-run inning that completely changed the complexion of the game and allowed Seattle to escape with a crucial victory.
DeGrom Dominates Early
DeGrom looked like the pitcher who once established himself as one of baseball’s most intimidating starters.
The veteran right-hander retired the first 15 Mariners he faced and was particularly effective with his strikeout pitch. He struck out eight of his first nine batters, marking the fifth time in his career that he has accomplished that feat.
Seattle finally managed to get a runner aboard in the sixth inning when Cole Young lined a single that deflected off DeGrom’s raised glove. It ended what had been a remarkable stretch of dominance from the Texas starter.
Despite finally surrendering a hit, DeGrom continued to keep Seattle’s offense under control. He completed six scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and one walk while recording 12 strikeouts.
The 12 strikeouts were especially significant because they represented his highest single-game total since September 2022, when he was still pitching for the New York Mets.
With DeGrom in complete command, Texas appeared to be on its way to an important victory.
Rangers Build an Early Lead
While DeGrom handled the Mariners’ lineup, Texas’ offense provided him with enough support to establish a 3-0 advantage.
That lead appeared particularly comfortable considering how effectively DeGrom was pitching. Seattle had struggled to generate consistent offense, and the Rangers were in position to turn the strong pitching performance into a much-needed win.
Instead, everything changed once DeGrom left the game.
Texas turned to Jakob Junis to begin the seventh inning, and the Mariners immediately began putting pressure on the right-hander.
Randy Arozarena opened the inning by getting hit by a pitch. That gave Seattle an early baserunner and provided the lineup with an opportunity to create momentum.
Dominic Canzone followed with an RBI single, cutting Texas’ advantage and giving the Mariners their first run of the night.
Cal Raleigh then added another single, putting additional pressure on the Rangers and bringing Rodriguez to the plate with an opportunity to do significant damage.
Rodriguez Delivers the Turning Point
Rodriguez needed only one pitch to make his impact.
Facing Junis, the Seattle star attacked a first-pitch sinker and drove it out of the ballpark for a three-run homer. The home run was his 21st of the season and gave Seattle a 4-3 advantage.
In a matter of minutes, the Mariners had transformed a three-run deficit into a one-run lead.
The rally was especially impressive because Seattle had spent most of the evening struggling to solve DeGrom. Once the Rangers turned the game over to the bullpen, however, the Mariners quickly found an opening.
Rodriguez’s homer became the defining moment of the contest and gave Seattle the lead it needed.
A Critical Result for Both Teams
The victory carried significant implications for the American League playoff race.
Texas entered the game needing wins to remain close to the top of the AL West and maintain its position in the wild-card race. Instead, the Rangers’ loss left them three games behind the Houston Astros for the division lead.
Texas also fell two games behind the final American League wild-card position.
Seattle, meanwhile, remains five games behind the final wild-card spot, meaning the Mariners still have considerable ground to make up. However, victories like Thursday’s could become extremely important if the team hopes to remain involved in the postseason picture.
The Mariners demonstrated that they can overcome difficult circumstances, particularly against elite pitching.
A Painful Loss for Texas
From the Rangers’ perspective, the defeat was particularly frustrating because of how well DeGrom pitched.
The veteran delivered exactly the kind of performance Texas needed. He kept Seattle hitless through the early stages of the game, struck out 12 batters and exited after six innings without allowing a run.
Ordinarily, a starting pitcher delivering six scoreless innings with only one hit and one walk would put his team in an excellent position to win.
Instead, the Rangers’ bullpen could not protect the three-run advantage.
Junis was charged with the loss after allowing Seattle’s decisive four-run rally. The Mariners capitalized on the opportunity immediately after DeGrom’s departure, turning what had looked like a comfortable Texas victory into a damaging defeat.
Mariners Keep Fighting
Seattle’s comeback also highlighted the importance of staying aggressive late in games.
The Mariners were unable to do much against DeGrom, but they did not allow his dominance to completely take them out of the contest. Once Texas went to its bullpen, Seattle’s hitters were ready to capitalize.
Arozarena reaching base, Canzone’s RBI single and Raleigh’s follow-up hit set the stage for Rodriguez’s decisive swing.
That sequence gave Seattle everything it needed.
Although the Mariners still have work to do in the standings, Thursday’s win provided an important reminder that their postseason hopes remain alive.
The Rangers, meanwhile, will have to regroup after wasting one of DeGrom’s best starts in recent seasons.
Ultimately, the game belonged to Seattle because of one spectacular seventh inning. DeGrom controlled the first six, but Rodriguez and the Mariners seized control when the opportunity finally arrived.
With the postseason race tightening, victories against division opponents could become increasingly valuable. Seattle will hope Thursday’s comeback can provide momentum for the games ahead, while Texas must find a way to prevent strong pitching performances from being undone late.
For one night, the Mariners proved that even a dominant start from an elite pitcher is not necessarily enough to secure a win. They waited for their opportunity, attacked when it came, and turned a three-run deficit into a 4-3 victory.
