Sunday afternoon at T-Mobile Park felt like a landmark day in Seattle Mariners history. Catcher Cal Raleigh powered the Mariners to an 11-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics and etched his name into the record books with two towering home runs — his 48th and 49th of the season.
Those blasts shattered two long-standing Major League Baseball marks. The crowd could sense they were witnessing something special.
Now, the Mariners shift their focus to the inaugural Vedder Cup showdown against the San Diego Padres. Postseason positioning hangs in the balance.
Cal Raleigh’s Historic Day at the Plate
Raleigh’s offensive outburst set his place among the most powerful catchers in baseball history. His first record-breaking moment came when he surpassed Salvador Perez’s 2021 mark for home runs in a season by a primary catcher.
Perez had set the standard at 48. Raleigh matched it with his first homer, then claimed sole ownership with his second.
Surpassing a Legend in Switch-Hitting Lore
As if that wasn’t enough, Raleigh broke a record that had stood since 1961. With his multi-homer performance, he notched his 10th multi-HR game of the season as a switch-hitter, surpassing the legendary Mickey Mantle.
This accomplishment puts Raleigh in elite company. He’s blending rare versatility with raw power from both sides of the plate.
The crowd understood the magnitude of the moment and let him know it. Chants of “MVP! MVP!” echoed throughout the ballpark, and Raleigh gave a curtain call to the fans.
For Mariners fans, this was more than just another win. It felt like a celebration of a player coming into his own as a central figure in Seattle’s playoff hopes.
From Records to Rivalry: The Vedder Cup Awaits
Next up for Seattle is a unique interleague showdown: the inaugural Vedder Cup. Named for Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder — who has ties to both Seattle and San Diego — the charity series adds a cultural twist to the on-field competition.
Earlier in the season, the Mariners swept the first three games of the series in San Diego. That fact isn’t lost on either side heading into this rematch.
Padres Enter with Playoff Purpose
San Diego saw its five-game win streak snapped by the Dodgers over the weekend. Still, they remain tied atop the NL West standings.
Manager Mike Shildt says his squad is locked in and hungry for the division crown. The Padres have shown some real resilience and know every game matters right now.
The series opener will see the Padres hand the ball to left-hander JP Sears. He’s got an 8-10 record with a 4.94 ERA.
Sears, recently acquired at the trade deadline, just picked up his first Padres win and will try to build on that momentum.
Seattle’s Pitching Plan and Playoff Push
The Mariners will counter with right-hander Bryce Miller. He’s sitting at 2-5 with a 5.87 ERA.
Miller just returned from the injured list and is still looking to regain his form. One of his best outings this year came against the Padres in a shutout performance.
Seattle could use that kind of dominance again to keep pressure on division-leading Houston. It’s a tall order, but never say never.
Mariners’ Position in the Playoff Race
With two games to make up in the AL West and a three-game cushion in the final wild card spot, the Mariners are walking a tightrope. Division dreams are alive, but they’ll need to hold off surging competition for a playoff berth.
The combination of Raleigh’s hot bat and a resilient pitching staff could prove decisive over the next few weeks. It’s going to get interesting, that’s for sure.
Key Storylines to Watch
When these two teams collide, expect fireworks both on and off the field. Here are a few factors to keep an eye on:
- Raleigh’s Momentum – Can the Mariners’ slugger keep up his torrid pace and push beyond the 50-homer plateau?
- Pitching Comebacks – Will Bryce Miller return to form after injury? Can JP Sears maintain his strong post-trade showing?
- Playoff Pressure – Each team is chasing a division title. Every game in this series feels magnified.
- Vedder Cup Energy – The charity angle and fan intrigue add extra juice to an already competitive matchup.
From history-making home runs to a rivalry born from music and baseball, this week offers Mariners fans plenty to cheer about.
Here is the source article for this story: Cal Raleigh aims to power M’s vs. Padres in showdown of contenders
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