Cal Raleigh Hits 3 Home Runs as Mariners Rout Phillies 9-2

Cal Raleigh hit three home runs and finished 3-for-3 to lead the Seattle Mariners to a 9-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night.

SEATTLE -- Cal Raleigh recorded the first three-homer game of his career on Monday night, driving the Seattle Mariners to a 9-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. The switch-hitting catcher finished the game 3-for-3 with a walk, scoring three times and raising his season batting average from .159 to .167. Raleigh entered the contest with a 31.2% strikeout rate but successfully pulled all three of his home runs into the right-field seats while batting from the left side of the plate.

The scoring barrage began in the first inning when Seattle plated five runs, capped by Raleigh’s two-run shot off Philadelphia ace Zack Wheeler. In the fifth inning, Raleigh and teammate Cole Young opened the frame with back-to-back home runs, a sequence that chased Wheeler from the mound. Raleigh added his final solo home run in the seventh inning against reliever Chase Shugart, bringing his season total to 17 home runs.

Historic Night for Seattle Catchers

Raleigh is now the 13th player in Mariners franchise history to record three home runs in a single game. He is only the second catcher in team history to achieve this feat, joining current manager Dan Wilson, who hit three homers in April 1996. The most recent Mariner to hit three home runs before Raleigh was Dominic Canzone, who accomplished the task on Sept. 16 of last year.

This performance marks a significant turnaround for the catcher, who was the runner-up for the American League MVP award last season. During that career-best year, Raleigh led the major leagues with 60 home runs and 125 RBIs, helping Seattle reach the American League Championship Series before falling in seven games to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Overcoming a Season-Long Slump

Before Monday's breakout, Raleigh had been mired in a season-long slump following his 2025 success. "I've been feeling better in the box," Raleigh said regarding his recent adjustments. "Physically, trying to just get my hands back sooner and I feel like I've done a better job of that. And then mentally, it's just been about that belief and just having that hope and that optimism every single day." He noted the importance of staying level-headed and remaining prepared for each game despite his earlier struggles at the plate.

Manager Dan Wilson observed that Raleigh was finding the barrel more frequently and showing better plate discipline by taking walks. Wilson emphasized the difficulty and impressive nature of Raleigh performing so well from the left-handed side of the plate. Starting pitcher Logan Gilbert also noted the impact of the performance on team morale, stating that the roster benefits significantly when Raleigh gets hot and starts rolling.

Statistical Impact and Pitching Lines

The Mariners' offense provided ample support for Gilbert, who watched Raleigh record his first multi-homer game of the current season. By reaching base four times, Raleigh lowered his strikeout frequency for the night and demonstrated the optimism he mentioned regarding his mental approach. The victory over the Phillies serves as a high point for the Seattle lineup, which combined Raleigh's power with Young's fifth-inning contribution to secure the seven-run margin of victory. The Mariners now look to build on this momentum as Raleigh continues to work on his hand positioning and pitch selection to maintain his improved batting average.