SEATTLE (AP) — Center fielder Julio Rodríguez was placed on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday by the Seattle Mariners after his right ankle didn't respond to treatment as quickly as the team had hoped. Shortstop J.P.
Crawford joined him on the injured list because of a hairline fracture in his right pinky finger, an injury sustained when he got hit by a pitch in Monday’s game. The two injuries are major blows to a Seattle team that has seen a 10-game lead in the AL West disappear in barely a month after going 9-18 since June 19. Seattle entered Tuesday in second place, less than a percentage point behind Houston.
“Certainly very disappointing news when you lose two guys that are so critical and key to our team,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “There’s nothing we can do about it. There are some things you cannot control.
You can’t control that and we’ll have a different look to our team.” Rodríguez was hurt in the sixth inning of Sunday’s game against Houston as he attempted to make a catch crashing into the outfield wall. There was initial hope that he could avoid a stint on the injured list but Servais said after Rodríguez arrived at the ballpark on Tuesday it was clear he would need a little time to recover.
The team listed Rodríguez’s injury as a high ankle sprain. Servais didn’t give a timeline on recovery. Rodríguez had taken off at the plate lately following a slow start, batting .
459 with four homers and eight RBI over his past 1.