SEATTLE — When Cal Raleigh stepped back into the batter’s box tied by a 3-0 count on Tuesday night, he knew the green light had been approved to dig home. He also knew that his middle-of-the-road fastball would certainly present itself in that seventh-inning sequence with two outs.
For the Mariners to pull through for their 13th comeback win this season — once again on the shoulders of the “Big Dumper” — it’s just a matter of performance, and just like that, not thinking about the greatness of the season.
“Sometimes hitting dumb is better than hitting smart,” Raleigh said after the Mariners’ 4-3 win over the White Sox, “that’s true.”
Indeed, that 3-0 count gave way to a warm-up drive down the middle from White Sox reliever John Brebia that connected Raleigh for a two-run, go-ahead double into the right-field corner with the game-winning hit. And it came less than 24 hours after he crushed a walk-off grand slam in the series opener on Monday.
Raleigh now has six hits that tie the game or put the Mariners ahead in the seventh inning or later this season — tied for most in the majors with Milwaukee’s Willie Adams. Beyond Monday’s slam, he drove in two crucial insurance runs in Sunday’s 6-5 win in the 10th in Kansas City. And he now has a 1.046 OPS with 42 RBI in 18 late and close situations, according to Baseball Reference.
“I think it’s a heartbeat,” Mariners manager Scott Sarvis said. “And he can hit a lot of pitches. He’s a good fastballer. He’s also a good breaking ball. And that really helps in those situations.”
Before Tuesday, Raleigh had just 29 professional plate appearances in a 3-0 count, 26 of which turned into walks. He saw 61 pitches in 3-0 counts and gave up two outs and an RBI single while striking out just three, last Sept. 26 against Houston.
The Mariners were more aggressive in 3-0 counts coming into Raleigh earlier this year, knowing they could create excellent lineups to do damage. Raleigh hasn’t always been comfortable swinging in 3-0 counts, but there is a change.
“I haven’t done that much before,” Raleigh said. [when there are] Foundations are open. So, use it. And sometimes, that’s what the game wants. You have to hit big and you don’t want the pot to settle near you; And here’s one chance you’ll get.
Raleigh’s 3-0 slugger left the bat at 109.3 mph, scoring Josh Rojas from second base and Julio Rodriguez from first. The burly backstop had another two-out double in the third inning that made it a one-run game to account for three of Mariners’ four RBIs. After he and Luke Raleigh lined consecutive opposite-field doubles, the second came from Mitch Garver.
Overall, the Mariners have a .740 OPS in June (ninth best in MLB) after posting a .611 OPS in March/April and May (fourth worst).
Raleigh’s heroics on Tuesday lifted Seattle to nine games over .500 (39-30) for the first time this season and extended its lead in the American League West to 6 1/2 after the Rangers lost at Dodger Stadium.
A big part of why the Mariners have built such a comfortable cushion is that they have now won 15 of their 24 games and are 23-11 overall at T-Mobile Park this season. With a win on Wednesday or Thursday to complete this four-game sweep against the White Sox, they can win their eighth straight home series.
Added comfort to Seattle’s return came hours after the club said it was awaiting the results of an MRI on Brian Waugh, who was ruled out of Tuesday’s opener because of a problem with his right hand. The Mariners instead turned to starter Jonathan Diaz and veteran Grady gave them 5 1/3 innings allowing three runs.
Diaz kept them in the game, and the bullpen went scoreless. But it was another big moment for a player who made countless appearances that made the difference on Tuesday.