Mariners beat Padres as rookie phenom Julio Rodriguez makes history

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Julio Rodriguez sent a drive almost to the top of the brick warehouse in the left-field corner and pointed to the relievers in the bullpen who were also watching his monster two-run homer sail out of Petco Park.

"I thought it would be pretty cool to hit one up there but I wasn't really like thinking about hitting it out there," Rodriguez said after the Seattle Mariners beat the listless San Diego Padres 8-2 Monday.

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Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez, left, reacts with third base coach Manny Acta after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Monday, July 4, 2022, in San Diego.  (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

The prized rookie said he was pointing to the bullpen "picking up the guys. They were looking that way from over there, so I was pointing at them. I just see it and hit it, I guess. That's what I try to do every time I'm at the plate."

Cal Raleigh drove in four runs — including a bases-clearing double — and Chris Flexen helped pitch the Mariners to their third straight win and sixth in seven games. The Padres gave their home fans little to cheer about on the holiday afternoon as they lost for the eighth time in 11 games.

The Mariners and Padres share a spring training complex in Peoria, Arizona, and have been deemed natural rivals by MLB for scheduling purposes.

Rodriguez drove a 2-0 pitch from left-hander Sean Manaea (3-4) onto the balcony of the fourth floor of the Western Metal Supply Co. warehouse with one out in the fourth inning to give the Mariners a 4-0 lead. It was his 15th homer this season and 12th in his last 40 games.