Momentous MLB milestone: Mariners star makes history

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has officially etched his name into franchise lore. On Saturday night at Daikin Park, Raleigh broke the Mariners’ single-season home run record and powered Seattle to a 6-4 victory over the Houston Astros.

Raleigh entered the second game of the series tied with Ken Griffey Jr. at 56 home runs for the 2025 season - a mark Griffey reached in both 1997 and 1998.

In the third inning, Raleigh stepped to the plate and launched a solo shot to right-center, giving the Mariners a 3-0 lead and surpassing the Hall of Famer’s record. The blast, his 57th of the year, was a milestone not just for the franchise, but for Major League Baseball: Raleigh has already set the MLB records for most home runs in a season by a catcher and by a switch-hitter, having previously eclipsed marks held by Salvador Perez and Mickey Mantle, respectively.

MVP award in the offing?

With his historic performance, Raleigh has vaulted himself into serious contention for the American League MVP award. The switch-hitting backstop is batting .246 with 140 hits in 568 at-bats and has driven in 119 runs. His power and production behind the plate have made him the centerpiece of a Mariners lineup that’s surged to the top of the AL West.

Kirby key to Mariners triumph

Seattle’s win wouldn’t have been possible without a stellar outing from starter George Kirby. The right-hander delivered six scoreless innings, scattering five hits and striking out seven. Kirby’s command and poise set the tone, and he notched his 10th win of the season with his 12th quality start.

The game took a dramatic turn when reliever Carlos Vargas entered in the seventh. Vargas allowed singles to Yainer Díaz and Jesús Sánchez, then hit Cam Smith to load the bases. Jeremy Peña made him pay, launching a grand slam to bring Houston within two runs.

Seattle’s bullpen, however, held firm. Andrés Muñoz, who has established himself as one of the game’s elite closers, came on in the ninth. Muñoz hit Jake Meyers to open the inning, but rebounded by striking out pinch-hitter Zach Cole and inducing a game-ending double play. Carlos Correa lined a ball to right, where Victor Robles made a clutch throw to second to double off Meyers, who was late getting back to the bag. The play sealed Muñoz’s 37th save and preserved a crucial win for the Mariners.

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