AL DIVISION SERIES: TIGERS VS MARINERS

October 5, 2025

Julio Rodríguez

T-Mobile Park

Seattle Mariners

Postgame 2 Press Conference

Mariners - 3, Tigers - 2

Q. Julio, just how electric was the atmosphere after the double? And, I mean, to be able to come through in that moment, just what did that mean to you?

JULIO RODRIGUEZ: I mean, it was huge. You know, after I hit it, I just -- I kind of looked around a little bit. I could see everybody jumping around, and that made me feel really good. It was an awesome moment.

But more importantly, you know, to come and answer back, you know, as a team, I felt like Cal got it going right there, and, you know, I was really happy to be able to follow through on that and, you know, grab the lead again. And you kind of set the table for Mun to do his job.

Q. Julio, as you got ready for the postseason, thinking about what was ahead, to meet the moment in a game like this, to you, what's the feel of postseason baseball for you as a player?

JULIO RODRIGUEZ: The feel, that is the best baseball we can play, and it's fun, you know? I feel like everybody's so engaged in the game, the fans, the team, I mean everybody. That's something that I really love about postseason baseball.

And, you know, it was awesome. It was awesome. These are things I dreamed of as a kid. I remember just watching the game, and to be able to be here playing baseball for the team is really awesome.

Q. Julio, how tough is it to refocus when all the air's kind of let out when they tied at 2 and then you guys are back up at the plate. Obviously Cal set the table for you, but just in general, how difficult is that situation for a team to just refocus after what happened?

A. I mean, it's not difficult. I feel like we're in it to win it, you know? And it doesn't matter, like, what really happened, if they take the lead or anything like that, they tie it up. We know what the goal is about the game, and there is not really time to feel sorry about what happens or anything like that.

So I feel like just stay in the moment. I feel like that's kind of how I personally see it, just stay in the moment, and knowing that we have to hit. We have to hit. The game's not over, and we have the opportunity to answer back.

Q. Julio, it's a bit of a slam dunk question, but Jorge Polanco, just how big has he been for you this season and obviously here tonight?

JULIO RODRIGUEZ: I mean, awesome, man. He's such a good baseball player. He's a grinder. All year long he's been having great at-bats, coming clutch in so many situations.

And today to have hit two homers against the best pitcher in the game right now, it's awesome. There is not enough words to describe what he means to the team and everything that he has done to this year.

But all I can say is I'm really happy that he's our teammate and he's playing for us because he can do -- he can do what he did tonight for us, and it's pretty unbelievable.

Q. Do you see him -- could you see how hurt he was last year in playing through the pain? He had the bad knee, had to have surgery, had a bunch of stuff, and even this year with the oblique. But could you see it last year that he was hurting?

JULIO RODRIGUEZ: Of course. Of course. We all knew. We all knew what he was going through, and we all had his back. We also knew how much he cared about the team last year.

And just to see him, like, kind of going through and showing up every single day, he inspired me a lot, I've got to say, just in the way that he went about his business. You could tell how much he actually wanted to play, but his back wasn't letting him.

So that's why I'm so happy for him this year, that he's been more healthy, more on the field. This is the most he has played, like, in the whole year in a while, and I know he's put in a lot of work, and I'm so, so happy that he's having success again and enjoying the game of baseball that he loves.

Q. Julio, you've gotten your fair share of accolades, obviously All-Star Games, Rookie of the Year, MVP voting. People know you're a great player. But also over these past few games, people are calling you a clutch player as well, just based on what you've accomplished. How important is that to you to have that reputation as well?

JULIO RODRIGUEZ: I feel like in games like this, I feel like any situation is clutch. You can win a game in the first three innings of the game, in the middle of the game or late in the game because every single run matters.

And, you know, at the end of the day, people are going to call me whatever they want to call me, but I feel like the biggest pride I take is helping the team win. In any situation that I can, I feel like that's what makes me feel good. And listen, if they want to say that I'm clutch too, okay. Cool. So be it.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about the mindset of being able to get this win and now going on the road? Would be a much different environment.

JULIO RODRIGUEZ: I know they're not going to like us over there. They're going to root for their team. They're going to root for the Tigers, just like the Mariners here, our fans were rooting for us.

And just go out there and play baseball. That's a mindset, go out there and play baseball. Just try to score runs and limit them to not score runs and win the ball game. I feel like that's the mindset.