Mariners' Cal Raleigh Hits MLB Season-First 40th Home Run

Cal Raleigh led the Seattle Mariners to a 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels by hitting his 40th home run of the season, making him the first player to reach that mark in 2025 and the first switch-hitter in MLB history to reach 40 homers before August. His solo shot in the sixth inning was a tiebreaker that sparked a four-run rally, putting him alongside legendary Mariners sluggers such as Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez. Raleigh's milestone places him as the seventh catcher in major league history to hit 40 home runs in a season, joining elite company like Johnny Bench and Mike Piazza. Supporting performances included Julio Rodríguez and Randy Arozarena each hitting solo home runs, with George Kirby pitching six strong innings and striking out nine to secure the win. The Angels struggled offensively despite solo homers from Taylor Ward and a sacrifice fly from Zach Neto, and their starting pitcher Tyler Anderson had an inefficient outing with a 5.66 ERA in his recent starts. The Mariners' offense capitalized on Angels' bullpen struggles and defensive errors, extending their winning momentum.