logo
Raleigh hits MLB-best 44th homer and Rodríguez connects twice as streaking Mariners top Rays 7-4

Raleigh hits MLB-best 44th homer and Rodríguez connects twice as streaking Mariners top Rays 7-4

SEATTLE (AP) — Cal Raleigh launched his major league-leading 44th home run, Julio Rodríguez went deep twice and the surging Seattle Mariners defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 7-4 on Saturday night after retiring Ichiro Suzuki's No. 51 jersey.
Seattle extended its win streak to six, the longest active run in the American League, and moved within a half-game of Houston atop the AL West.
After hitting the go-ahead homer in the eighth inning Friday night, Raleigh delivered another three-run shot Saturday to put Seattle up 5-1 in the third. Rodríguez connected on the next pitch from starter Joe Boyle (1-2), who lasted 3 1/3 innings.
Rodríguez also hit a two-run homer in the first, a 436-foot drive, and has 23 home runs this season.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Cal Raleigh hits 47th homer, closing in on Salvador Perez's catcher record
Cal Raleigh hits 47th homer, closing in on Salvador Perez's catcher record

Washington Post

time38 minutes ago

  • Washington Post

Cal Raleigh hits 47th homer, closing in on Salvador Perez's catcher record

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Cal Raleigh autographed a toilet seat for one fan, along with the scores of baseballs and other paraphernalia 'The Big Dumper' signed for shrieking Little Leaguers. Raleigh gave the kids a real treat hours later. The Seattle Mariners slugger socked his 47th homer of the season to boost his major league lead and put him within striking distance of the season homer record for catchers set by Kansas City's Salvador Perez. 'He continues to swing a really hot bat,' Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. 'I don't think I'll ever get tired of that.' Raleigh's two-run shot in the seventh inning sent hundreds of Little Leaguers from around the globe cheering in delight to see one of the brightest stars in Sunday's MLB Little League Classic go deep. It didn't help the Mariners much in defeat. The New York Mets beat the Mariners 7-3 and won the last two games of the three-game set. The Mariners are still in the thick of the AL wild-card race and hope to gain ground when they head Monday to Philadelphia for the start of a three-game series. Raleigh could make catching history in Philly. Perez hit 48 homers for the Royals in 2021. 'I think it's been an incredible season for him,' Wilson said. 'But I think we knew what's in there. He's done a great job of bringing it out.' Raleigh put more than his prodigious power on display in the home of youth baseball's biggest weeks of the summer. Raleigh's chest protector featured a baseball card design of Mariners players and coaches from when they were kids. He breezed through the pregame clubhouse in a 'Little Dumper' T-shirt gifted by some of the Little Leaguers. 'You grow up wanting to come here as a kid. Get to do it as an adult now,' Raleigh told MLB Network before the game. 'It's really fun. Excited to meet the kids and hang out.' Raleigh power was always evident. He hit 27 homers in 2022, 30 in 2023 and 34 last season. Now he's on pace to easily top 50 homers and maybe more. There are only five other players in big league history who have hit at least 40 homers while primarily playing catcher: Perez, Johnny Bench (twice), Roy Campanella, Todd Hundley and Mike Piazza (twice). Bench, Campanella and Piazza are Hall of Famers. 'He's a guy that we knew all along coming up in the minor leagues that he had a pretty high ceiling,' Wilson said. 'What he does behind the plate and what he does now at the plate has been unbelievable. He's carried the weight of both of those things and has done it very well.' A first-time All-Star at age 28, Raleigh burst through on the national scene when he won the All-Star Home Run Derby . He became the first switch-hitter and first catcher to win the title. He's the second Mariners player to take the title after three-time winner Ken Griffey Jr. Raleigh's homer Sunday also gave him 102 RBIs this season. He's the first catcher to record back-to-back 100 RBI seasons since Piazza and and the first American League catcher to reach that feat since Thurman Munson. Even more milestones await. Maybe even a playoff berth. 'He's just become a better hitter,' Wilson said. ___ AP MLB:

Mark Vientos' three-run homer delights kids, leads Mets to 7-3 win over Mariners
Mark Vientos' three-run homer delights kids, leads Mets to 7-3 win over Mariners

Washington Post

timean hour ago

  • Washington Post

Mark Vientos' three-run homer delights kids, leads Mets to 7-3 win over Mariners

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Mark Vientos hit a three-run homer to the delight of hundreds of cheering 12-year-olds and sent the New York Mets to a 7-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday night in the Major League Baseball Little League Classic . Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh boosted his major league home run lead with his 47th of the season in the seventh. Little Leaguers from around the world made up the bulk of the crowd at the 2,366-seat Historic Bowman Field and some of them got to pinch-hit in a variety of roles. There were kids in the broadcast booth, playing DJ, and even public address announcer. That is, when they weren't belting out the SpongeBob lyrics or angling for selfies with Mariner Moose or Mr. Met . For the big leaguers, the annual game is a throwback of sorts to their own youth baseball days. Mets pitcher Sean Manaea traded pins. Raleigh's chest protector featured a baseball card design of teammates and coaches from when they were kids. And yes, managers for both teams held their breath as players went cardboard sledding at Lamade Stadium. The game went downhill early for the Mariners. Vientos hit a sacrifice fly off Mariners starter George Kirby (8-6) in a three-run second inning. Vientos hit his eighth homer of the year in the fifth to make it 6-1. Francisco Lindor added an RBI double later in the inning. The game put the Little League in Little League Classic when Lindor mistimed a leap on a catchable ball that led to a Mariners run in the fourth and Seattle center fielder Julio Rodríguez misplayed Lindor's double and let the ball drop on the warning track. Clay Holmes (10-6) allowed one run in five innings for the win. Perhaps it came off the field. Commissioner Rob Manfred said during the ESPN telecast that baseball would consider expansion that could potentially geographically realign teams for easier travel and potentially make for more viewer-friendly TV times in the postseason. The Mets failed to blow a lead for just the second time in the last nine games. The Mets are off Monday before they start a three-game series at Washington. The Mariners head to Philadelphia on Monday for the start of a three-game series. AP MLB:

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store