SEATTLE (AP) — Slumping Randy Arozarena was dropped to fifth in the batting order for the Seattle Mariners in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday after leading off in every game since July 30.
Julio Rodríguez led off for the first time since July 28. Seattle had lost two straight at home, dropping into a 2-2 tie in the best-of-seven series.
Rodríguez had been hitting third. Josh Naylor moved from fifth to cleanup after starting the series 6 for 14.
“Sometimes when you make a change like that, it can create some different results,” manager Dan Wilson said. “Hopefully this is a chance to kind of jumpstart things offensively.”
Arozarena was 2 for 15 with one RBI in the series, on a solo homer. The 2020 ALCS MVP for Tampa Bay, he is hitting .158 wit