Cal Raleigh's Epic Bases-Clearing Double Just Reminded Seattle Why He's The Guy
The Mariners catcher came back swinging in Cactus League action Thursday night, and once he found his groove, it was all fireworks. After striking out three straight times to start the game, Raleigh smacked a bases-clearing double in the seventh inning that sent the M's past the A's 6-4 at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa. This is exactly the kind of bounce-back moment Seattle needs to see heading into the season.
From Strikeout City to Hero Ball
Here's the wild part: Raleigh almost didn't play Thursday night. He was originally planning to sit out another day after getting fewer at-bats than expected during the World Baseball Classic, but he felt the itch to get some cuts. Smart move. His first three tries? Strike, strike, strike. Fourth time up? That's when the magic happened. Raleigh crushed a 2-1 sinker off the center field wall at Hohokam Park, a 438-foot moonshot according to Statcast that ended up as a double because of how the park is laid out. No yellow home run line out there means the entire 27-foot structure is fair game. When his ball smacked three-quarters of the way up, he had to settle for the extra-base hit that cleared the bases and capped a six-run seventh inning.
Manager Dan Wilson loved what he saw. "That's what he's looking for right there and over the next couple of days that's what he's going to continue to look for and find. Once he finds it and is consistent with it, he's going to be in great shape," Wilson said. "I thought that was a really nice, short, compact swing." Raleigh finished the night with four strikeouts total after getting punched out again in the ninth on a 3-2 cutter from Jack Perkins, but that seventh-inning moment is what matters.
The Bad News: Rob Refsynder Got Hurt
The win felt good, but there was a scare. Outfielder and DH Rob Refsynder left the game in the sixth inning after taking a pitch on the left elbow from A's pitcher J.T. Ginn. He didn't look to be in serious pain, but it was enough to get him out of the game.
On the bright side, Randy Arozarena came off the bench in left field and had two hits to help carry the load.
Looking Ahead to Friday's Madness
Friday is going to be packed for the Mariners. There's a minor league game in the morning with Logan Gilbert on the mound, then the Spring Breakout game in Maryvale against the Brewers at 2 p.m. PT on MLB Network, where prospects like Colt Emerson, Jonny Farmelo, Lazaro Montes and Ryan Sloan are expected to play. And to cap it off, the M's face the Guardians in Goodyear at 6:05 p.m. PT, which will air on Seattle Sports 710-AM, Mariners.com and the MLB App. That's your regular season opponent right there. Time to make a statement.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.