HOUSTON (AP) — Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez was scratched from Thursday night's series opener against the Houston Astros with back tightness.
Manager Dan Wilson said after Houston's 9-2 win that he would be day to day with the issue.
Rodríguez hit a three-run homer in Wednesday's 6-5 win over the White Sox and took batting practice on the field Thursday before the lineup change was announced about 30 minutes before game time.
“It kind of tightened up on him during batting practice today, so just wanting to be precautious with it,” Wilson said. “Something that’s day to day, we’ll assess it tomorrow when we get here.”
The 2022 American League Rookie of the Year is hitting .231 with nine homers and 28 RBIs.
Leody Taveras moved from right field to center field after the scratch and Miles Mastrobuoni was inserted into the lineup to play right field and bat eighth.
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Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez (44) runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Morez Johnson Jr. scored a career-high 29 points, including 17 in the first half, and No. 2 Michigan beat No. 24 Southern California 96-66 on Friday night.
Roddy Gayle Jr. added 12 points for the Wolverines (13-0, 3-0 Big Ten), and Will Tschetter, Trey McKenney and L.J. Cason each scored 10.
Michigan is off to its best start since it won 17 straight games to start the 2018-19 season.
Jaden Brownell scored 16 points and Erza Ausar added 15 for the Trojans (12-2, 1-2), whose only previous loss was by eight points against Washington on Dec. 6. Chad Baker-Mazara, who came into the game averaging 21 points, was hampered by early foul trouble and finished with 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting.
Michigan starting guard Nimari Burnett was helped from the court with 16:25 left after falling during a battle under the basket. He went down to the floor and appeared to be bleeding above his eyebrow and holding his ankle. He sat on the bench the rest of the night.
The Wolverines bolted out to an 11-0 lead thanks to a defense that forced six early turnovers. USC got within five points twice in the first half and Michigan responded with a 32-19 run to build a 49-31 halftime advantage.
USC got no closer the rest of the way.
USC: At No. 9 Michigan State on Monday.
Michigan: Visits Penn State on Tuesday.
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Michigan center Aday Mara, front, drives against Southern California center Gabe Dynes, back, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
