Randy slams, then walks it off for the Mariners ... literally

SEATTLE -- Randy Arozarena didn’t care that the Mariners were being shut out in the eighth inning on Wednesday afternoon, didn’t care that they were on their way to another deflating defeat against their division rivals and didn’t care if what happened next might be deciphered as showboating.

He was still hell-bent on injecting infectious energy into the home dugout at T-Mobile Park.

Arozarena bookended the Mariners’ miraculous, 7-6 victory over the Astros by igniting an improbable rally with his second career grand slam in the eighth inning that fired up his teammates, then drawing a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the ninth to walk it off.

“I'm a guy that when things aren't going right, I'm always trying to get everybody hyped up,” Arozarena said through an interpreter. “I always see myself kind of like a motor, trying to pass the energy that I have to everyone else.”

Arozarena’s heroics catapulted the struggling Mariners (5-8) to their first series win in 2025, and against division-rival Houston, less than 24 hours after they went 1-for-19 with runners in scoring position in an gut-punch, extra-innings loss and lost another key contributor to the injured list.

“Randy is always looking to light things up every time he steps on the field,” said Julio Rodríguez, who set up Arozarena with a two-run, game-tying double. “He's so electric, and he definitely came huge for us in that spot.”

Down to Seattle's final four outs, and with 96.8% odds to lose, per Baseball Savant, Arozarena ambushed a 1-1 fastball from lefty reliever Steven Okert and watched it sail sky-high before beginning his lengthy home run trot -- but not before stopping short of first base and striking his trademark pose by crossing his arms high across his chest.

“I know we have a good group,” Arozarena said. “We do have a good group. And I know it's early in the season, but the objective is October. I want to get back to October.”

Arozarena is hitting just .191 despite scorching the ball early this season, though his .801 OPS shows that his production is doing the most optimum damage, and it might hint that he’ll heat up more as his home environment does.

But the impact that the slugging left fielder could carry even further is the contagious energy he’s shown in some of the young season’s biggest moments. Arozarena also ignited the Mariners’ comeback on Opening Day -- also in the eighth inning -- with a game-tying homer.

Arozarena will likely be leaned on in that regard more than ever, now that leadoff man and sparkplug Victor Robles is sidelined at least 12 weeks with a fractured left shoulder.

“Our outfield is extremely dynamic,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “And to a man, these guys have a joy for the game. They have a love for the game, and they have incredible talent to go with that -- and Randy fits right in.”

Arozarena was at the dish for the two consequential plate appearances, but he needed help to manufacture those huge moments -- especially given that the Mariners had just two hits going into the eighth.

Rodríguez set him up with a 98.7 mph double to snap an 0-for-15 that dated back to his first-inning homer on Sunday in San Francisco.

“That at-bat comes with a little bit of extra responsibility,” Rodríguez said.

Rodríguez’s breakthrough came immediately after a challenge from Wilson and replay coordinator Andy Bissell that kept Donovan Solano on third base, after he was initially ruled out and tagged off the bag on a chopping grounder from J.P. Crawford.

Solano and Miles Mastrobuoni -- starting at second base for Ryan Bliss after he was placed on the IL on Wednesday morning with a torn left biceps -- each hit singles, and Crawford reached via the fielder’s choice. And in the eighth, Mastrobuoni (single), Crawford (walk) and Rodríguez (walk) were on for the slam, a sequence that happened quickly.

“That's what big teams do,” Arozarena said. “It doesn't matter how you start, but it's kind of how everybody comes together to pull off a win.”

The Mariners were approaching a third straight series loss, followed by a weekend series against first-place Texas, and potentially, a deeper hole in the early American League West race. Yes, it’s early, but these divisional games -- especially at home -- have proven vital for a team that’s missed the postseason by a hair each of the past two years.

Arozarena is already talking about October in April, which is maybe a good thing. Even better was that he backed it up in a big way.