Cal Raleigh’s magical history tour rolls on.
Cal Raleigh sets a new American League record as he closes in on Barry Bonds
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh set a new AL record on Friday night in a win over the Detroit TIgers
Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Mark Schofield is a former college quarterback and attorney covering the NFL and F1.
The Seattle Mariners catcher continued his incredible season Friday night, going 2-for-5 with a pair of home runs in the Mariners’ 12-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
Raleigh’s second blast on Friday night also made some American League history.
His first home run came in the top of the eighth inning, in a big spot for the Mariners. Seattle held a 4-3 lead at that point, when Raleigh lifted a fly ball deep to left-center:
The fly ball carried deep enough for Raleigh’s 37th home run of the season.
But the catcher was not done. He came to the plate with the bases loaded in the final frame, as Seattle at that point enjoyed an 8-3 lead.
Soon enough it was 12-3:
Raleigh turned on a 93-mph sinker low in the zone, depositing a grand slam into the left-field bleachers for his 38th home run of the season.
Which is where the history part comes in.
That blast set a new American League record for home runs before the All-Star break, eclipsing the 37 hit by Chris Davis of the Baltimore Orioles back in 2013. That also puts Raleigh one shy of the MLB record set by Barry Bonds, who belted 39 home runs before the All-Star break back in 2001.
Bonds finished that season with 73 home runs.
Raleigh and the Mariners have two more games before the break, giving the catcher a legitimate chance at matching Bonds before he and the rest of the All Stars head to Atlanta.
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