Cal Raleigh's grand slam: came on the first pitch from left-hander Caleb Ferguson after an intentional walk loaded the bases with one out in the seventh inning. The 408-foot blast to left field was Raleigh's longest home run since April 6 and his sixth career grand slam.
George Kirby extended his dominant stretch: with six shutout innings, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out six. It marked his sixth straight quality start — a span in which he has surrendered only 11 earned runs over 38 innings.
The Mariners (51-50) moved a half-game ahead of Texas (50-50): atop the AL West after the Rangers lost to the White Sox earlier in the evening. Seattle has won three consecutive games.
Why this matters:: The intentional walk of Canzone over Raleigh — who came into the game hitting just .163 with a .565 OPS — underscored the steep decline for the 2025 60-home run slugger. Raleigh's response provided a potential turning point both for his season and for a Mariners team fighting to stay in the playoff race.
Historical context: A year after his magic 60-homer campaign, Raleigh had been through a brutal first half. The mindset shift — focusing on team-first play rather than individual performance — appears to be helping him and the club rediscover their 2025 postseason form.
With the Mariners leading 2-0 in the seventh inning, runners on second and third, and one out, Reds manager Terry Francona summoned left-hander Caleb Ferguson to face Dominic Canzone. Rather than pitching to Canzone — who carried a .993 OPS against lefties in 31 plate appearances — Francona ordered an intentional walk to load the bases.
Canzone himself was surprised, hesitating at home plate before accepting the free pass. That brought up Raleigh, who had been hitless in his previous 15 at-bats and hadn't homered since July 4.
"I'd do that every time," Francona said after the game. "I know what Raleigh's hitting and he still worries me. But I thought that was our best chance to have them not score. And the worst possible outcome happened."
Raleigh sat back on Ferguson's first offering — a hanging slurve — and sent it 408 feet into the second deck, sending the crowd of 35,929 into a frenzy.
George Kirby (8-8) continued his emergence as one of baseball's most consistent starters. In his first start in 12 days after the All-Star break, the right-hander worked efficiently through six innings on 80 pitches. Manager Dan Wilson pulled him early to avoid overextending him after the layoff.
Kirby now owns a 3.57 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP and 104 strikeouts against 25 walks over 116 innings this season. His streak of six straight quality starts includes at least six innings and three or fewer runs allowed each time out.
The win, combined with Texas's loss, gives Seattle a razor-thin lead in a tight AL West race. The team will look to build momentum with Kirby lined up to make his next start on the road against the Rangers — a pivotal divisional matchup.
Julio Rodríguez exited the game midway through as a precautionary measure after beating out an infield single, and J.P. Crawford was a late scratch with a wrist issue. Their statuses will be worth monitoring as the Mariners push through the second half.
Why did the Reds intentionally walk Canzone to face Cal Raleigh?
Reds manager Terry Francona cited Canzone's .993 OPS against left-handed pitching in 31 plate appearances as the reasoning. Raleigh was hitting just .163 with a .565 OPS at the time, making the percentages favor pitching to him despite his power potential.
How has George Kirby performed recently?
Kirby has been outstanding, posting six straight quality starts. Over that stretch, he has allowed 11 earned runs across 38 innings with strong strikeout numbers and excellent command.
Where do the Mariners stand in the AL West standings?
After Monday's win, the Mariners are 51-50, a half-game ahead of the Texas Rangers (50-50) for first place in the division.
Was Julio Rodríguez's exit from the game serious?
Manager Dan Wilson indicated the move was mostly precautionary after Rodríguez sprinted through first base on an infield single in the fifth inning.
For Mariners fans:: The intentional walk moment could be a season-defining spark for Raleigh, who has been searching for his 2025 form. This win shows Seattle can compete even when its stars are struggling.
For fantasy baseball owners:: Raleigh's grand slam could signal a turnaround. Monitor his at-bats closely — if he builds on this moment, he could provide significant second-half value. Kirby remains a reliable fantasy starter with excellent strikeout-to-walk ratios.
For AL West observers:: The division race is wide open. With the Rangers and Mariners separated by just a half-game, every head-to-head matchup down the stretch carries extra weight.
Would you have intentionally walked Canzone to load the bases for a struggling Raleigh, or would you have taken your chances against the hot hitter? Do you think this grand slam marks the turning point for Raleigh's season?
*Share this article with fellow Mariners fans who need to stay ahead of this division race!*
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