Catcher Raleigh Twin Gun Record Night Evans Quality Starter Assists Mariners Victory

With seven weeks to go until the Atlanta Grand Slam, Cal Raleigh continues to prove himself worthy of a place with his performances. The sailor's record-breaking season continues to run on Tuesday night with another double-hit at T-Mobile Park to lead a 9-1 win over the Nationals.

It was Raleigh's third season and thirteenth career single-shot multi-hit performance — but it was the first time in his career that he hit two home runs as a right-hand hitter. After David Segui achieved the same feat on May 5, 1998 against the White Sox, Raleigh became only the second left-right shooter in Mariners history to unlock the feat. According to STATS statistics, he became the first catcher in the major leagues to achieve the following in a single season: a double shot on April 16, a double left hit on May 2, and a single right hit on this game.

"The confidence to play right has been thoroughly built," Raleigh admits, "and I had limited opportunities to play right at the beginning of my career, but now I have found my rhythm by continuing to play. Its season of 19 hits temporarily topped the American League, only one hit behind major league leader Shohei Ohtani. At the same time, he hit 18 hits in the team's first 53 games as a full-time catcher, surpassing the record set by Roy Campanella in 1955. If the current 58 hits are maintained, it will break Salvador Pérez's 2021 record of 48 hits in a single season. Raleigh surpassed Mike Piazza last year with 34 hits to become the all-time hitter in the first four seasons of his career.

"These legendary names make the achievements even more meaningful," he says, "and I will look back on them with gratitude." The Mariners had a 13-3 record this season at the time of their opening.

Raleigh also got an up-close look at rookie Logan Evans' career masterpiece. The 2023 12-round rookie conceded just one point in eight innings, scoring 88 goals (65 good goals) for the Mariners' longest number of innings this season. The only points conceded was a 448-foot cannon shot by James Wood in the fourth inning. "As long as I win the game, Raleigh will shoot," Evans laughs, "and the equation is perfect." "

Facing the Nationals' all-left starting lineup for the third time in team history, Evans was only hit 4 hits and 1 was protected, and when no one was out on second and third base in the eighth inning, he used Randy Arozarena's flying shot from the out-of-bounds area to defuse the crisis. "I threw my fist with excitement when I saw him finish that catch," Evanstan admitted, "and the emotions exploded instantly. Had it not been for the ball count and a nine-point lead, the rookie who replaced injured Logan Gilbert and Bryce Miller would have been able to challenge the shot – the last time the sailors finished their shot was back in Gilbert's game on July 4, 2023.

Asked if he would consider letting Evans challenge for the finish, coach Scott Servais struggled: "Of course I thought about it, but he's done a great job. At this moment, the night sky of Seattle is being lit up by the brilliant performance of the new generation of casting partners.