PEORIA, Ariz. — The ACL Mariners (33-23) reclaimed sole possession of first place in the ACL West Friday night, overcoming multiple deficits to defeat the ACL Rockies (37-17), 8-6, at the Peoria Sports Complex. Leandro Romero’s go-ahead three-run home run highlighted a four-run fifth inning, while the bullpen held on late to secure Seattle’s victory.

Seattle starter Roberto Perez battled through four innings, allowing just one earned run despite surrendering seven hits. The right-hander stranded traffic throughout the night, limiting the damage while striking out three. Colorado managed only single runs in the third and fourth innings against Perez, with an unearned run in the fourth coming after a Mariners throwing error allowed the go-ahead run to score.

The Rockies struck first in the third inning when Cristian Arguelles singled before Ronny Ugarte delivered an RBI single for a 1-0 lead.

Seattle answered immediately in the bottom half. Joshua Francis and Diego Contreras opened the inning with singles before Nick Becker loaded the bases with another hit. Yorger Bautista lifted a sacrifice fly to center, tying the game at one before Rockies starter Kevin Concepcion picked Becker off first base to end the inning.

Colorado regained the lead in the fourth after Ben Wilmes singled and later scored on a stolen-base sequence aided by a throwing error. The Mariners answered once again in the bottom half. Leandro Romero drew a leadoff walk before Dalton Davis singled and advanced to third on a throwing error by center fielder Cristian Arguelles. Kelvin Alcantara’s sacrifice fly tied the game, and Seattle grabbed its first lead when Martin Gonzalez worked a walk before Joshua Francis reached safely to keep the inning alive.

The Rockies rallied again in the fifth against reliever Cristian Aray. Cristian Arguelles doubled before Alessander De La Cruz drove home the tying run with a double. Kamuel Villar later added a sacrifice fly as Colorado moved back in front, 4-3.

Seattle delivered the game’s biggest inning in the bottom of the fifth.

Diego Contreras worked a leadoff walk before Nick Becker ripped a double into left field. Bautista reached on a fielder’s choice to tie the game before Leandro Romero crushed a three-run home run to left field, his fifth of the season, giving the Mariners a 7-4 advantage. Dalton Davis followed with his 15th double of the year, and Seattle added another run later in the inning to extend the lead to 8-4.

Colorado refused to go away. The Rockies scored twice in the sixth to trim the deficit to two, but Aray picked up the victory after recording the final out of the fifth, and Caleb Franzen worked the final two innings to earn his first save of the season despite continued pressure from the Rockies lineup.

Romero finished 1-for-2 with a three-run homer, three RBI, two runs scored and a walk. Contreras went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Dalton Davis continued his torrid stretch by going 3-for-3 with two doubles and a run scored. Becker added two hits, including his 13th double, and Bautista drove in two runs.

Seattle totaled nine hits while taking advantage of timely hitting in the decisive fifth inning, finishing 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

The Mariners will look to keep their momentum going Saturday when they travel to Surprise Sports Complex to face the ACL Rangers.

POSTGAME NOTES

• With the victory, the Mariners moved into sole possession of first place in the ACL West.
• Leandro Romero hit his fifth home run of the season and drove in a season-high three runs.
• Dalton Davis finished 3-for-3 with two doubles, giving him 15 doubles on the season.
• Diego Contreras recorded his fourth home run? (Correction: two hits, one RBI and two runs scored.)
• Nick Becker collected his 13th double of the season.
• Roberto Perez allowed one earned run over four innings while striking out three.
• Caleb Franzen recorded his first save of the season.