Cal Raleigh Calls Himself 'Awful' After Mariners Fall 4-1 to Yankees

Cal Raleigh went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts as the Seattle Mariners lost 4-1 to the New York Yankees, marking their fifth consecutive defeat.

The Seattle Mariners fell 4-1 to the New York Yankees on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium, marking their fifth consecutive defeat and their 14th loss in the last 19 games. Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh, who finished the game 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, saw his season batting average drop to .159. The loss puts the Mariners at a season-worst eight games under the .500 mark. During this five-game skid, the offense has produced only five total runs, with a meager nine runs coming across the plate over the past seven contests.

New York’s Ryan Weathers dominated the mound, carrying a one-hit shutout into the sixth inning. Weathers earned the win after throwing 5⅔ innings, allowing just one run and two hits while striking out four batters. The Yankees' offense was fueled by two-run singles from both Ryan McMahon and Trent Grisham, providing the necessary cushion for the American League wild-card leaders. Seattle right-hander Bryan Woo delivered five scoreless innings in his second straight start without allowing a run, but he received no run support before exiting the contest.

Cal Raleigh Struggles and MVP Comparison

Cal Raleigh’s current production stands in stark contrast to his performance one year ago. Through 86 games this season, the catcher has recorded 12 home runs and 43 RBIs to go with his .159 average. At the same point last season, Raleigh was hitting .271 with 35 home runs and 74 RBIs. That 2025 campaign resulted in a second-place finish in the American League MVP voting, where he trailed winner Aaron Judge by only 20 points.

Following the loss in the Bronx, Raleigh was blunt regarding his individual performance. "It's not good. We're not playing well. That starts with me. I'm awful," Raleigh told reporters. He noted that his approach at the plate has been compromised by off-balance swings, being late on fastballs and early on off-speed pitches. He emphasized that the team must find a way to be better as they navigate a nine-game road trip against three opponents currently in playoff positions.

Offensive Execution and Approach Issues

Seattle’s struggles have permeated every facet of the game, according to Raleigh. The catcher highlighted a lack of execution on "little things" and a dip in energy levels during the recent slide. He suggested that the team has become too reliant on the long ball, which leads to pitchers exploiting aggressive hitters. Raleigh urged his teammates to put pride aside and focus on the team aspect of hitting, such as taking singles or hitting the ball the other way rather than swinging for home runs every time.

"Sometimes, when you're feeling bad for yourself, you get a little lackadaisical out there and maybe have a little less energy," Raleigh admitted. He took personal responsibility for the lack of an "edge" in the clubhouse, stating that he needs to do a better job of being prepared and ready to go every night. The Mariners are currently searching for a spark to ignite an offense that has gone dry during the most critical stretch of their season.

Statistical Breakdown of the Seattle Slump

The Mariners' recent 5-14 stretch has seen the team fall significantly behind in the standings. The lack of offensive production is underscored by the fact that they have mustered only 0.71 runs per game over their last seven outings. Raleigh acknowledged that he is "ultimately the worst of the group right now" and pointed to the difficulty of playing when it feels like everything is going against the club. Despite the frustration, he maintained that the team must take control of their situation rather than waiting for success to be given to them. The Associated Press and ESPN Research contributed data to this report.