Mariners Sweep Astros: Cal Raleigh Homers, Valdez Struggles, AL West

The Seattle Mariners just made a statement in the American League West race, sweeping the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. This late-season push puts them in control of the division with only six games left and spotlights some wild individual milestones and clutch pitching.

The AL West crown is suddenly within reach, and the Mariners look like one of the scariest teams heading into October. Meanwhile, the Astros are scrambling to keep their postseason hopes alive.

Mariners’ Offensive Outburst Seizes AL West Momentum

Seattle’s bats caught fire against Houston, lighting up the pennant race. Friday’s opener saw four solo home runs—that set the tone for the weekend.

Saturday’s game ended with a game-winning double play. Sunday’s finale? A wild seven-run inning blew things wide open.

Cal Raleigh’s Record-Breaking Season

In the middle of this surge, Cal Raleigh carved out a spot in Mariners history. The catcher smashed his 57th and 58th home runs, passing Ken Griffey Jr.’s single-season record.

Raleigh now has a shot at 60 home runs, with Aaron Judge’s AL record of 62 not that far off. He’s also played over 1,000 innings behind the plate without a passed ball, putting him in range to break Johnny Bench’s 1975 defensive record.

Pitching Depth Driving Seattle’s Success

The Mariners’ offense has grabbed headlines, but their pitching staff has pulled its weight. Rookie righty Logan Woo threw five scoreless innings in Friday’s opener, keeping his hot streak alive before leaving with pectoral discomfort.

His postseason status is still up in the air. Still, he’s delivered in some big moments.

Key Bullpen Performance

Reliever Gabe Speier came up huge in a critical spot. He faced Christian Walker in the eighth inning Saturday with the game on the line and struck him out.

That clutch moment really showed off Speier’s rise as one of the AL’s best lefty relievers.

Astros Struggling at the Worst Possible Time

The Astros, usually October regulars, are sputtering at the worst time. Even with a few bright spots, their main guys just haven’t produced consistently.

Hunter Brown Offers a Silver Lining

For Houston, young starter Hunter Brown kept his breakout season rolling with his sixth straight quality start. He hit the 200-strikeout mark and stays in the AL Cy Young conversation.

At least the Astros can count on him for some rotation stability.

Framber Valdez’s Late-Season Collapse

The other side of Houston’s pitching has been ugly. Framber Valdez, once the ace, has fallen apart since August with a 6.71 ERA and eight losses in his last nine starts.

His slump threatens Houston’s playoff hopes and his own free-agent value.

Offensive Woes for Houston’s Stars

The Astros’ lineup just hasn’t clicked. Christian Walker’s up-and-down year mirrors the team’s struggles.

Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez haven’t delivered the big moments Houston counted on in past Octobers. If that doesn’t change fast, the Astros might be watching October from the couch.

Looking Ahead: Division Race Dynamics

With the sweep, the Mariners’ magic number is down to three for their first AL West title since 2001. Houston’s got a friendly schedule to finish, but there’s no room for mistakes now.

Key Takeaways

The series told a clear story:

• Seattle’s offense is peaking at the right time.
• Cal Raleigh is having a historic season, both at the plate and behind it.
• Pitching depth and some late-inning bullpen magic make the Mariners look like a complete roster.
• Astros pitching, apart from Hunter Brown, keeps stumbling.
• Houston’s offense? Their big names need to show up now, or it could get ugly fast.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Cal Raleigh’s home runs, Framber Valdez’s struggles, the AL West title and more: 7 takeaways from the Mariners’ sweep of the Astros