Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez reacts after hitting a home run against the Miami Marlins on April 26 at T-Mobile Park. Ryan Sun-Imagn Images

Seattle Mariners Hitters Julio Rodriguez, Jorge Polanco Make Franchise History

Originally posted on Seattle Mariners on SI
By Teren Kowatsch | Last updated Apr 27, 2025 4:00 PM ET

SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners first 24 hours back in Seattle were rough. The team lost ace Logan Gilbert for an extended period of time and lost to the Miami Marlins in the first of a five-game homestead Friday. The team responded by blanking the Marlins 14-0 on Saturday — which tied a franchise record for the largest shutout in history.

A pair of Seattle hitters set their own bit of franchise history amidst the shutout.

Julio Rodriguez and Jorge Polanco hit respective solo home runs to lead-off the game in the bottom of the first inning. Rodriguez's homer came on the first pitch the Mariners saw in the game.

First pitch SMOKED pic.twitter.com/2PYfW4kRjx
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) April 27, 2025

Rodriguez and Polanco's solo shots accounted for the first two of a six-run first inning for the team. It was also the third time in franchise history Seattle hit back-to-back home runs to start a game.

One of this year's National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, Ichiro Suzuki, was a part of the other two times the team accomplished that feat. Suzuki and Desi Relaford did it on Sept. 9, 2002, against the Texas Rangers and Suzuki and Chris Snelling did it on Aug. 29, 2006, against the Los Angeles Angels.

Back-to-back homers to begin a game, @Mariners history:

Julio Rodríguez and Jorge Polanco (tonight)
Ichiro Suzuki and Chris Snelling (8/29/06 vs. LAA)
Ichiro Suzuki and Desi Relaford (9/9/02 at TEX)
— Mariners PR (@MarinersPR) April 27, 2025

Polanco went on to hit a second solo homer in the bottom of the fourth inning Saturday. He's hitting .354 (23-for-65) this season with seven home runs and 18 RBIs. Rodriguez is batting .194 (21-for-108) with four home runs and 11 RBIs. Rodriguez and Polanco accounted for three-of-four home runs for the Mariners against Miami. It was the first multi-home run game and fifth multi-hit game of the season for Polanco.

This article first appeared on Seattle Mariners on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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