Mariners sweep Astros and Cal Raleigh moves closer to Aaron Judge’s record

Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hit a solo home run against the Astros, moving within four home runs of tying the record set by Aaron Judge in 2022.

The race for the American League West title is now firmly in place, as the Seattle Mariners (87-69)swept the series against the Houston Astros (84-72).

Winning Game 3 7-3 and taking a three-game lead in the division championship race.

A strong start for the Mariners

In the second inning, the Mariners loaded the bases with singles, and the first run came unexpectedly when Víctor Robles drew a walk. Later, J.P.

Crawford ignited the offense with a grand slam, adding four RBIs to his tally.

Cal Raleigh and His Quest for the Record

Cal Raleigh is having the best season by a switch-hitter in Major League Baseball history and now has the opportunity to break Aaron Judge’s home run record.

Following Crawford’s grand slam, Raleigh hit his 58th home run of the season, putting him just four shy of the New York Yankees slugger’s mark.

The catcher connected on a changeup from Joe Alexander and drove in Randy Arozarena, extending the lead to 7-0.

In last night’s game, Raleigh became the Mariners’ all-time home run leader, surpassing Ken Griffey Jr.’s record.

Now, his challenge is to hit the four home runs he needs to surpass Judge, a task that won’t be easy.

The penultimate series of the regular season will be played at home against the Colorado Rockies.

While the final series will be against the Los Angeles Dodgers at T-Mobile Park.

The Astros Try to Rally

Astros broke the deadlock in the bottom of the third inning thanks to a solo home run by Zach Cole.

Houston right fielder surprised Logan Gilbert’s starting pitcher, sending the ball over the right-field fence at 109 miles per hour.

The Astros managed to make the scoreline more respectable by scoring a run in the seventh inning.

With runners on second and third, José Altuve lined a single to right field, allowing Cole to score and making the score 7-2.

In the eighth inning, Isaac Paredes added another solo home run to the Astros’ defeat.

The Mexican player connected with a high sinker and sent it out of the park at Daikin Park, over the left-field fence.

A Heartbreaking End for Houston

Although the Astros dreamed of a comeback in the ninth inning, their effort was in vain.

Cole grounded out 3-1, while pinch-hitter Victor Caratini popped out to center field.

The final play came when Matt Brash struck out Jose Altuve, sealing the victory for the Mariners with the 27th out.

Interesting Facts about the Mariners and Cal Raleigh

Cal Raleigh has set a new Mariners record by surpassing Ken Griffey Jr., a significant milestone in team history.

Raleigh, being a switch-hitter, is a rarity in modern baseball, standing out in his category.

The Mariners are having one of their best seasons in years, positioning them as serious postseason contenders.

T-Mobile Park, home of the Mariners, has witnessed many memorable moments in baseball history, and this year is no exception.

The rivalry between the Mariners and the Astros has grown in recent years, making each matchup more exciting.

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