Mariners Soar to First Place with 11-2 Win Over Angels

SEATTLE – The Seattle Mariners clinched sole possession of first place in the American League West on Sunday, defeating the Los Angeles Angels 11-2 at T-Mobile Park. With just 12 games left in the season, the Mariners’ breakthrough comes after a stretch without holding the division lead for over two decades.

Cal Raleigh, the standout catcher, made history by hitting his 54th home run of the season in the first inning. His blast not only tied Mickey Mantle’s MLB record for most home runs by a switch-hitter in a season but also broke the record for the most home runs hit by a catcher in a single season, previously set at 42 by Javy López.

Facing veteran pitcher Kyle Hendricks, Raleigh crushed a first-pitch sinker for a line drive that soared 409 feet. The hit energized the crowd of 42,513 and put Seattle ahead 2-0 early in the game.

Raleigh’s homer initiated a scoring spree for the Mariners, who secured an early lead that only grew larger. By the fourth inning, the Mariners found themselves ahead 11-0, prompting a dominant exhibition of offensive power.

Julio Rodríguez, who also excelled with two doubles, helped increase the Mariners’ lead as the team rallied with a series of hits. Jorge Polanco tied the franchise record by hitting doubles in seven consecutive games, contributing significantly to the score with four offensive players driving in runs during a six-run fourth inning.

George Kirby, Mariners’ starting pitcher, performed admirably on the mound, throwing 6 1/3 innings and recording a career-high 14 strikeouts. During the game, he retired the first 13 batters faced and allowed only three hits and two runs.

With this victory, the Mariners (82-68) moved ahead of the Houston Astros (81-69) and extended their lead to three games over the Texas Rangers (79-71). This development marks the latest point in the season the Mariners have been in first place since 2001. The Astros and Rangers both suffered losses, allowing Seattle to gain a critical edge.

The Mariners now travel to Kansas City for a series against the Royals starting Tuesday, looking to sustain their momentum as they push towards the postseason.