The Houston Astros have quietly stormed back from a brutal start to the season to finally take sole possession of first place in the AL West after a 4-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night.
The win was highlighted by one steller home run robbery, and the Astros’ outfielder took the chance to send Mariners superstar Julio Rodriguez a playful message after taking his home run away.
With the Astros up 4-2 in the bottom of the 8th inning, Rodriguez sent a fly ball deep to right field that seemed to be headed to the bleachers for his second home run of the night, but Trey Cabbage leaped to make the catch at the wall before throwing up Julio’s patented “no fly zone” celebration.
Trey Cabbage robs Julio Rodriguez of a home run then gave Julio a dose of his own medicine with the no fly zone message and Julio laughed about it. pic.twitter.com/AHxEAqncgB
Rodriguez laughed at the gesture and gave respect to Cabbage for the great catch in a display of outstanding sportsmanship, as Julio knows exactly what it feels like to take away a home run.
Julio hit a two-run shot in the sixth inning to give the Mariners a 2-1 lead, but they gave it right back in the seventh on a two-run shot by Jake Meyers to put Houston up 3-2 and give the Astros the lead for good.
Cabbage hasn’t done much at the plate and has just a .637 OPS this season, but his glove has helped earn his way into the lineup while Kyle Tucker works his way back from an injury.
The Mariners have now lost five in a row en route to relinquishing first place in the division, and they’ll try to avoid a sweep on Sunday.