Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh finally broke out of a prolonged slump with a single in the seventh inning of a 10-2 win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night. The hit ended an 0-for-38 skid, the longest hitless streak in the majors this season, and it was his first hit since April 27.
Raleigh reached on a line drive to center field off Jayden Murray with one out in the inning. He lifted both arms after arriving at first base and smiled toward the Mariners dugout, where several teammates celebrated the moment.
A needed moment for Seattle’s catcher
The single also brought some relief after a difficult stretch at the plate. Raleigh went 0-for-2 with a walk in the game, but the hit gave him a clear lift after the Mariners had waited nearly two weeks for him to snap the drought.
He later scored on Randy Arozarena’s double that pushed Seattle’s lead to 8-2. Back in the dugout, Raleigh received high-fives and handshakes from teammates who had seen the slump build into a notable storyline.
The at-bat came one inning after Raleigh was shaken up when a foul tip from Christian Walker hit him between the legs. He stayed in the game and later delivered the hit that ended the streak.
Why the slump stood out
Raleigh entered the game as one of the Mariners’ most important bats after a huge season last year. He finished second in AL MVP voting and led the league with a Seattle-record 60 home runs and 125 RBIs.
This season has been far quieter by comparison. Raleigh is batting .160 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs in 40 games, a line that reflects how uneven his production has been even before the hitless run.
The Mariners will continue to look for more consistency from Raleigh, especially with his power and role in the middle of the lineup. For one night in Houston, though, the single gave Seattle a timely spark and gave Raleigh a much-needed return to the hit column.