Cal Raleigh, hitting a paltry .163 this season, erupted in the seventh inning against the Cincinnati Reds, smashing a 408-foot grand slam into the left-field bleachers. This wasn’t simply any home run; it was a shot that broke open an already tense 3-0 game, all thanks to Reds manager Terry Francona’s decision to intentionally walk Dominic Canzone and load the bases, daring our very own slumping slugger.
Francona’s Laughable Gambit
In the top of the seventh, with the Mariners clinging to a 3-0 lead and runners on second and third, Francona made a move that screamed “strategy,” but tasted like disrespect. He ordered lefty Caleb Ferguson to intentionally walk Dominic Canzone, a left-handed hitter with a .993 OPS against southpaws, even across only 24 at-bats. The logic? Bring up Raleigh, who’d been struggling mightily. Seriously, the dude was batting .163 with a mere 10 homers after slamming 60 last year as the AL MVP runner-up. He entered Monday with a measly 17 extra-base hits and went 0-for-10 in the first series after the All-Star break! Francona even stood by it, saying, “I know what Raleigh’s hitting and, he still worries me. But, I thought that was our best chance to have them not score. We could play the infield double-play depth. And, the worst possible outcome happened.” Oh, Terry, you got that right!
Raleigh Says ‘Not Today, Terry!’
Raleigh, who admitted he was surprised by the walk, wasn’t about to let that disrespect stand. He’d been feeling confident in his process despite the slump, and the moment was ripe. He pounced on the very first pitch, a hanging breaking ball, and absolutely crushed it 408 feet for his sixth career grand slam. That single swing drove in five runs and busted the game wide open for an 8-0 victory, the Mariners’ third straight win! You could feel the energy erupting in the dugout, and Raleigh felt it too. “It means a lot,” he said. “I feel like this group’s in a good spot now. … They’ve been very good, very positive and lots of energy in the dugout, and you can feel it. I feel really good about where we’re heading.” That’s the kind of confidence this squad needs.
The AL West Just Got a Wake-Up Call
This grand slam wasn’t merely a feel-good moment; it was a crucial hit for our M’s. With the win, Seattle (51-50) jumped a half-game ahead of Texas (50-50) for the top spot in the AL West. Remember, we started 2026 with sky-high expectations after that incredible run to the ALCS last year, falling to the Blue Jays in seven games. We’ve been hovering around .500 all season, and a big jolt like this, especially from a guy like Raleigh, could be exactly what we need. Raleigh himself knows it’s been frustrating this season, not solely for him, but for the rest of the Mariners too. But he’s not dwelling on it, saying, “Sometimes (you) can start to feel sorry for yourself or get a little frustrated. But, understanding that there’s still a lot of season left, and we’re still in the hunt of it, and we still have a job to do.”
Damn right, Cal. There’s a lot of season left, and with this kind of fire from our guys in the Emerald City, the AL West better be watching. Let’s keep that momentum rolling and build on this lead. Go M’s!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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