Cal Raleigh delivered another milestone moment in the Mariners’ 6-0 shutout victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday, launching his 35th home run of the season to tie club legend Ken Griffey Jr. for the most homers before the All-Star break in franchise history.
Raleigh’s record-tying homer came in the sixth inning, a powerful shot to the bullpen that capped a standout day for Seattle’s All-Star catcher. It was also the hardest-hit ball of his career and his second homer of the game after he hit No. 34 earlier. The performance continues a torrid stretch for Raleigh, who signed a contract extension earlier this season and has become one of the Mariners’ most reliable power threats.
“He feels like he hits a home run every game,” said former catcher Dan Wilson. “It reminds me of how Junior (Griffey Jr.) used to make every swing feel magical. One day it’s majestic, the next day it’s even better. It just keeps going.”
Despite his place in Mariners history, Raleigh remains grounded.
“I’m just trying to do the right thing, to keep it rolling,” he said after the game. “And if I can try to be like Griffey, that’s a good guy to look up to.”
Raleigh now stands alone with Griffey Jr. atop the Mariners’ single-season leaderboard for pre-All-Star break home runs — a significant accomplishment considering the elite company.
On the mound, Bryan Woo delivered another strong outing for Seattle. After a shaky first inning, the right-hander settled down and pitched six shutout innings, improving to 17-0 in games where he goes at least six innings. He struck out multiple Pirates, including Bryan Reynolds, while keeping the visitors off balance throughout.
Eduard Bazardo took over in the seventh, working through some traffic but ultimately keeping the shutout intact. In the bottom of the inning, Dylan Moore added to the Mariners’ lead with a two-run homer that drove in Donovan Solano.
Trent Thornton closed out the game with two scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth, striking out Joey Bart to seal the win and preserve the shutout.
Seattle’s win gives them momentum heading into the final stretch before the All-Star break, with Raleigh now firmly in the spotlight as he matches feats previously only accomplished by the franchise’s most iconic name.
