Mariners' Cal Raleigh Hits 43rd Home Run, Powers Win Over Rays

Cal Raleigh played a crucial role in the Seattle Mariners' 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays by hitting his 43rd home run of the season, a three-run go-ahead homer in the eighth inning off reliever Griffin Jax. This homer extended Raleigh's MLB lead and marked his 35th as a catcher this season, tying a record for AL catchers set by Hall of Famer Ivan Rodríguez. Despite a recent slump, with a .198 batting average over his last 20 games, Raleigh finished the game with one run scored and three RBIs, bringing his season totals to a .245 average with 92 RBIs across 114 games. The win was also highlighted by reliever Matt Brash, who recorded his second save of the season, striking out the side in a high-pressure situation after returning from Tommy John surgery. Raleigh acknowledged the significance of the homer, noting its importance in clutch moments down the stretch as the Mariners contend for a playoff spot. The Mariners' offense had struggled until Raleigh's at-bat, which came after consecutive hits from J.P. Crawford and Cole Young set the stage for his game-winning blast.