UPDATE, 7:15 p.m. PT: After the game, Raleigh said that he appreciates being in the same company as Ken Griffey Jr., but he's happy that the record chase is over and now everyone can go back to focusing on winning baseball games. He said he's heard from Griffey at various points throughout the season.
Manager Dan Wilson had this to say:
"He's been unbelievable... Offensively, does something pretty spectacular, hitting his 57th homer and also what he's done for us behind the plate. That's tough to do. That's tough to be so productive on both sides of the ball, behind the plate, and he's done it so well, and so consistently, and he's taken that humble approach to it..."
The Mariners ultimately won the game 6-4 to move to 85-69 on the season. They are now two games ahead of Houston in the American League West with seven games to play. They also own the tiebreaker for the season, giving them effectively a three-game lead.
In the top of the third inning on Saturday night, Cal Raleigh hit his 57th home run of the season, setting a new franchise record in the process.
HOUSTON -- Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh broke a longstanding franchise record on Saturday afternoon, hitting his 57th home run of the season in the top of the third inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park.
Hitting against Astros' left-hander Framber Valdez, Raleigh took a fastball deep to right-center field. That broke the previous franchise record of 56 home runs, which had been held by Ken Griffey Jr. since 1998.
Griffey won the American League MVP that season, and Raleigh is attempting to do the same this season. He appears to be battling with Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees for that honor, and if he's able to capture it, he will be the first Mariner since Ichiro Suzuki in 2001 to win it.
Raleigh's blast made it 3-0 Mariners at the time, as they had also scored on double by Eugenio Suarez and a sacrifice fly from Victor Robles.
Seattle entered play on Saturday at 85-69 and in first place in the American League West by one game over the Astros. If they are able to hold onto beat Houston, they will take a two-game lead in the division, and will have the season-long tiebreaker in hand as well. There are seven games remaining in the regular season after Saturday.
The M's haven't been to the playoffs since 2022 and haven't won the division since 2001. Raleigh now has 119 RBIs on the campaign.
We'll have more on this story at the conclusion of the contest.