Cal Raleigh’s record-setting day propels Mariners over A’s

Cal Raleigh hit two home runs, breaking a pair of major-league records, as the Seattle Mariners routed the visiting Athletics 11-4 on Sunday afternoon.
Raleigh hit two-run blasts in each of the first two innings off A’s left-hander Jacob Lopez (7-7), giving Raleigh an MLB-leading 49 homers this season.
That eclipsed the MLB mark of 48 for a player who primarily plays catcher set by Kansas City’s Salvador Perez in 2021. It was also Raleigh’s ninth multi-homer game of the year, surpassing Mickey Mantle’s record for a switch-hitter set in 1961.
Mariners starter Logan Gilbert (4-5) was provided a 10-run lead through three innings and cruised. Gilbert allowed one run on three hits over six innings, with one walk and a career-high 13 strikeouts.
A’s rookie Jacob Wilson, whose father Jack played for Seattle in 2009-11, hit a solo homer.
Lopez, who was 4-0 with a 0.70 ERA in four previous starts this month, struggled with his command. Lopez lasted just two-plus innings and gave up nine runs on six hits, with six walks and two strikeouts.
Randy Arozarena led off the bottom of the first with a single and Raleigh followed with a 448-foot shot into the second deck in left field – his longest homer of the season.
In the second, Jorge Polanco drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on Arozarena’s two-out double to center. Raleigh then homered off the out-of-town scoreboard in left-center to make it 5-1.
The Mariners added six runs in the third. Walks to Mitch Garver and J.P. Crawford sandwiched a single by Polanco to lead the bases for Victor Robles, who lined a two-run single to left. Eduarniel Nunez replaced Lopez and hit Arozarena with a pitch to load the bases. After Raleigh struck out, Julio Rodriguez blooped a two-run single to center and, with two outs, Josh Naylor lined a two-run double to right-center.
The A’s scored twice in the seventh and once more in the eighth off Seattle’s bullpen.