Is there a home run record that Cal Raleigh won’t own after this season. It’s starting to feel like anything is within reach of the Seattle Mariners’ slugging catcher at this point.
Raleigh was at it again Friday night against the Detroit Tigers, slugging a pair of home runs from the right side of the plate in the Mariners’ 12-3 rout against the team with the best record in the American League.
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Raleigh has now hit multiple home runs in eight games this season, which ties the Mariners’ single-season franchise record set by Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. and MLB’s single-season record for switch-hitters set by Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle. That’s some pretty solid company.
With an MLB-leading 38 home runs on the season, Raleigh is now holds the AL record for most home runs in the first half of the season, which was previously held by Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson at 37. He’s also just one home run shy tying Barry Bonds’ MLB record of 39 before the All-Star break. Bonds set that record in 2001, the same year he set the single-season record with 73.
Raleigh also leads the league with 81 RBIs this season.
Raleigh’s big night started late with the Mariners clinging to a 4-3 lead in the eighth inning. The switch-hitting All-Star connected on a changeup off the plate from Tigers reliever Tyler Holton, bouncing off the top of the fence in left-center field and into the bullpen for solo shot and 5-3 advantage. The ball traveled 383 feet and came off the bat at 98.1 mph.
Raleigh saved his best home run for last, though.
With the Mariners up 8-3 in the ninth, he unloaded on a fastball from Tigers reliever Brant Hurter for a grand slam well into seats in left field to blow the game wide open at 12-3. Raleigh’s second home run traveled 405 feet and came off the bat at 107.1 mph.
Raleigh has six hits over his past 10 games. All have been home runs.
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