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. He was evaluated after the game and diagnosed with left forearm tightness, according to manager Mark Kotsay.
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.
–Field Level Media
