OAKLAND, Calif. — After leading off Thursday afternoon’s game with a double into the left field corner and later scoring on Mitch Haniger’s single to right field, Julio Rodriguez exited the Mariners game in the bottom of the first inning, presumably with more lower back discomfort that kept him out of games in the previous series in Anaheim.
The Mariners later announced after the second inning that Rodriguez did indeed leave the game with lower back tightness.
After struggling to muster more than a run per game for much of the current road trip, Seattle scored three runs in the first inning off A’s starter Adrian Martinez, including Haniger’s RBI single, an RBI double from Cal Raleigh and Jesse Winker’s bases loaded walk.
Following the last out, Rodriguez jogged to his customary spot in center field. After George Kirby gave up a double to leadoff hitter Tony Kemp and issued a rare walk to Vimael Machin, Rodriguez signaled to the dugout, and athletic Taylor Bennett and manager Scott Servais jogged out to the outfield check on him.
After a brief conversation, Rodriguez walked off the field with them and straight to the training room.
This story will be updated.