SEATTLE – When he was in seventh grade, Cal Raleigh's dad pulled him out of school for a day to see a game at the old Yankee Stadium and connect with the game’s legends.
Raleigh especially remembers his dad telling him about Mickey Mantle and his accomplishments as a switch-hitter.
“I remember him talking about him like he was a god. Which he was,” Raleigh said.
Now Raleigh has put himself on the same list as the Yankee great. The Mariners catcher hit his 54th home run of the season in the first inning of Sunday's game against the Angels, tying Mantle for the most by a switch-hitter.
It was also Raleigh’s 43rd home run this season while playing catcher, passing Atlanta’s Javy Lopez in 2003 for the single-season record.
While Raleigh appreciates what the accomplishments mean, he’s also trying not to think too much about the records he’s setting. He’s much more comfortable talking about what his team is doing. Sparked by Raleigh’s homer, the Mariners won 11-2, stretched their winning streak to nine games and now sit alone in first place in the AL West.
“You know, in today’s age it’s hard not to go on your phone and people are talking about it, texting you about it,” Raleigh said. “I’m trying to do my best to block that out. I’m glad that we have something bigger to work towards.”
Raleigh’s blast was the start of a welcome blowout win for Seattle after a string of tense games on this perfect homestand.
After Randy Arozarena led off the bottom of the first with a single, Angels starter Kyle Hendricks threw an 84.6 mph sinker with his first pitch to the left-handed-hitting Raleigh, who sent it 409 feet into the Mariners bullpen in left-center field. It was his 34th home run this season batting left-handed.
The crowd broke into a now-familiar “M-V-P” chant as Raleigh rounded the bases and celebrated the homer, and erupted as he emerged from the dugout for a curtain call.
Now Raleigh is back in the space where each successive home run will be historic. His next, obviously, will set him in front of Mantle for the greatest power season by a switch-hitter. After that, No. 56 will tie him with Ken Griffey Jr.’s 1997 and ‘98 campaigns for the most home runs in a season in Mariners franchise history. No. 57 would give him that crown.
Then Raleigh's march to 60 would begin. Only three players in AL history have gotten that far, and all wore Yankees pinstripes -- Babe Ruth (60 in 1927), Roger Maris (61 in 1961) and Aaron Judge (62 in 2022).
Around the time Raleigh hit his homer, the Astros -- who entered the day tied with Seattle in the standings -- lost to the Braves. The Rangers fell to the Mets a short time later, giving the Mariners a welcome chance to get a little breathing room in the standings. Seattle is now a game up on the Astros in the division, the latest in a season the Mariners have been in first place since its record-setting 2001 club.
Nearly every Seattle player was in on the attack, especially in a six-run fourth inning. Six Mariners had multihit games, and Seattle had seven doubles, led by Jorge Polanco who doubled in his first three at-bats.
Polanco began his day with a two-out double that deflected off first baseman Logan Davidson’s glove and went up the right-field line. It was the seventh straight game with a two-bagger for Polanco, matching the Seattle franchise record set by Jim Presley in 1986.
“He’s just been locked in,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “His at-bats have been so good. You can’t beat him in, you can’t beat him away. He’s just in a really good spot.”
As good as the offense was, starter George Kirby matched it. Kirby bounced back from a couple of rough outings with a gem, pitching into the seventh and matching his career high of 14 strikeouts.
Kirby hadn’t gotten past the fourth inning in either of his previous starts in September, but was perfect through four against the Angels. He ended up allowing just two runs on three hits and didn’t walk a batter. It was the second time this season Kirby had 14 strikeouts, with the other coming on June 8 -- also against the Angels.
The 14th strikeout came against Jo Adell to start the seventh inning, even though Wilson was planning to take Kirby out and have Emerson Hancock start the inning. But Kirby ran out to warm up before the inning and got to face one more batter.
“There was a little miscommunication there,” Kirby said. “I wasn’t supposed to go back out, but I’m glad I got the strikeout. I didn’t know so I just went out there and did my thing.”
It was the latest start in a string of strong starts contributing to Seattle’s recent run.
“I think everyone is feeling that energy,” Kirby said. “Everyone wants to feel that energy and keep it going. The Astros and Rangers are never going to go away so we’ve got to keep attacking every day, and I think that’s what everyone’s doing right now.”