SEATTLE -- With one big swing, Julio Rodr¨ªguez put all the panic over his sore left wrist to bed in an emphatic return to the lineup on Tuesday night, swatting a 374-foot home run in his first at-bat after missing the Mariners¡¯ first four games of the second half.

¡°I was not built to watch baseball, man. I was built to play it,¡± Rodr¨ªguez?said. ¡°That¡¯s all I can say.¡±

? Will J-Rod turn extended break into a blip?

That moment out of the leadoff spot in the first inning helped send Seattle on its way to a 5-4 win over Texas at T-Mobile Park. Carlos Santana hit a walk-off sacrifice fly, scoring Cal Raleigh in the bottom of the ninth, just after Rodr¨ªguez was intentionally walked by the Rangers to help set up what they believed would be a more favorable matchup.

Raleigh¡¯s run was delayed after the Rangers challenged that his foot was not on third base when the ball landed in center fielder Leodys Taveras¡¯ glove, but replay review confirmed the incredibly close calls, both at third base and the plate.

But back to Rodr¨ªguez, who has reiterated throughout this breakout season that he sets no limits for himself. Yet even he couldn¡¯t believe his first-inning heroics, racing around the bases with a massive grin while shrugging his shoulders. The Mariners¡¯ dugout, amped up, also mirrored the gesture in an organic moment of reaction.

¡°I said literally just that before the game, I basically said, ¡®Man, if I hit a home run right now, it¡¯s going to be really funny, and I¡¯m honestly just going to laugh around the bases,¡¯¡± Rodr¨ªguez?said. ¡°And then when it happened, I was like, ¡®Wow. It actually happened.¡¯¡±

The AL Rookie of the Year Award favorite hadn¡¯t played in a week -- since the All-Star Game. One day earlier, he put on an electric performance in the T-Mobile Home Run Derby, when he swatted 81, finished runner-up to Juan Soto and inspired awe in a coming-out-party on a national stage. But he also aggravated the wrist injury that he suffered sliding headfirst on a stolen-base attempt during the final game of the first half.

Rodr¨ªguez¡¯s health had been the talk of the town after he missed the entire weekend sweep by the Astros, when the club clearly needed him, then Monday¡¯s win over Texas -- and his dramatic return underscored why.

¡°I¡¯m not surprised at this point,¡± said Raleigh, who had a prime view from the dugout. ¡°It¡¯s amazing what that guy is doing. When he hit it, I was just shaking my head in amazement. I mean, I almost expect it at this point. It¡¯s crazy.¡±

In a 2-2 count against Rangers starter Dane Dunning, Rodr¨ªguez?yanked an 80.5 mph slider that bled low-and-in instead of away, which put it right in the rookie¡¯s wheelhouse. Rodr¨ªguez?has shown elite all-field ability and impressive plate coverage on the outer half, yet his most optimal power is pull-side.

Opposing pitchers know this, too, as Rodr¨ªguez?entered the day with 50.6% of the pitches against him breaking balls and offspeed, making him one of just 22 qualified hitters being dealt secondary stuff more than half the time.

¡°That's how people go after him,¡± Mariners manager Scott Servais said. ¡°But if you make a mistake, you're going to pay -- because he's got that kind of power.¡±

As impressive as the homer was, the intentional walk more effectively highlighted the threat that Rodr¨ªguez?represents in crucial moments. With one out and Raleigh on third, the Rangers opted to put both Rodr¨ªguez?and Ty France on for free to create the force plays and roll the dice against Santana, the 36-year-old veteran with plus plate discipline built for those moments.

¡°That's my man right there,¡± Rodr¨ªguez said of his fellow Dominican countryman and mentor Santana. ¡°Just seeing him, basically they walked [France] thinking that was the best chance for them, but just seeing him like show them that¡¯s not really how it is, and winning the game right there. I feel like it was pretty special.¡±

Just two days after a deflating weekend against the Astros, Rodr¨ªguez and the Mariners are on the cusp of a sweep of Texas. And his return is a huge reason why.