Holy smokes, Seattle, did you see that?! The Mariners absolutely steamrolled the Cincinnati Reds 8-0 last night at T-Mobile Park, and man, did it feel good. We’ve been begging for this team to show some life, and Monday, July 20, 2026, they delivered big time, capped by a grand slam from none other than our guy, Cal Raleigh.
The Grand Slam Heard ‘Round the City
Let’s be real: this season has been rough. Fans have been stuck bemoaning lifeless at-bats and flat outings, especially after the electrifying playoff taste we got last summer. But last night, the M’s looked like a different squad. And the biggest moment? That seventh-inning grand slam by Cal Raleigh. Get this: Reds manager Terry Francona and his crew intentionally walked Dom Canzone, putting Raleigh up with the bases loaded and one out. They had former Mariner and 2025 playoff team member Caleb Ferguson on the mound, thinking they’d found a more favorable left-on-left matchup with Canzone, probably hunting an inning-ending double play, as Dan Wilson charitably explained postgame. What a mistake that was. Our All-Star switch-hitting catcher and Home Run Derby champ, who’s had a brutal and frustrating 2026, crushed it. What a turnaround for Cal, from doctor’s appointments to a clutch slam!
That blast pretty much sealed the deal, but honestly, the M’s were winning this game anyway. It was a complete performance, showing exactly what we’ve been missing. This wasn’t just a one-off bomb; it was a team effort that kept the momentum rolling right out of that brutal 0-7 shutout loss to the Giants last week. The boys have now won three of their last four games, including the last two of that Giants series and Sunday’s contest. We’re talking small ball and the long ball, folks, just like they pulled off Sunday.
Dominance on the Mound and at the Plate
George Kirby was dealing on the mound, too. It wasn’t necessarily his most dominant outing, but he still got the job done, neutralizing the Reds all night. He walked leadoff hitter Elly De La Cruz and went to a full count on JJ Bleday, who apparently had a crazy 1.56 OPS against Kirby coming into this game, but Kirby got him out on a harmless flyout. That’s how you shut down a threat! The M’s offense wasn’t just waiting for the big hit, either. They were manufacturing runs, taking advantage of Reds miscues and playing smart baseball.
Even the small moments built to something big. In the second inning, Cole Young worked a fantastic seven-pitch walk off lefty Andrew Abbott with two outs. Then Victor Robles followed up with a little dunk base hit, moving Young to second. That’s hustle, that’s smart hitting, and that’s the kind of baseball we know this team can play. It’s about time we saw this kind of fight.
This win feels like a huge exhale for the Emerald City. After a season that felt like we were reliving Evanescence’s “Bring Me To Life” in all the wrong ways, the Mariners finally reminded us what they’re capable of. This is what we expect, this is what we need. Let’s keep this energy going. 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.
Leave a Reply