Cal Raleigh showcased his remarkable power on the field, hitting his 37th and 38th home runs during the Seattle Mariners’ decisive 12-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on July 7, 2023. With these two homers, Raleigh moves within one of Barry Bonds’ record of 39 home runs before the All-Star break set in 2001. This victory also ended a three-month unbeaten streak for Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal.
Playing as the designated hitter, Raleigh’s performance was pivotal. He first connected for a solo home run in the eighth inning, bringing the score to 5-3. His excitement peaked in the ninth, where he hit a grand slam as part of a seven-run inning. This marked Raleigh’s eighth multi-home run game of the season, tying him with Reggie Jackson (1969) for the most such games before the All-Star break in Major League Baseball history, according to ESPN Research. Additionally, he matched Ken Griffey Jr. for the most multi-homer games in Mariners franchise history.
Raleigh now has two games remaining before the All-Star break, providing him a chance to tie or surpass Bonds’ record. The Mariners will face the Tigers again in these crucial matches.
Skubal, who had been stellar with a record of 10-0 and a 1.62 ERA over his last 16 starts, faced challenges against Seattle. He allowed four runs on four hits and two walks in five innings while striking out five batters. The Mariners’ offense began to take shape in the third inning when center fielder Parker Meadows missed a diving attempt at a sinking liner from Donovan Solano, resulting in an RBI triple.
The Tigers managed to tie the game in the fourth inning with a single from Ach McKinstry. However, the Mariners responded quickly with a two-out RBI single from J.P. Crawford in the fifth, followed by a two-run home run from Julio Rodríguez, extending the lead to 4-1.
Despite Riley Greene’s RBI triple in the sixth, which brought the Tigers within striking distance, the Mariners sealed their victory with a strong offensive display in the ninth inning.
As the Mariners prepare for their upcoming games, all eyes will be on Raleigh as he aims to etch his name further into baseball history. The anticipation builds over his potential to break records and elevate the Mariners in the standings.
