Catchers coming up big for A's, Mariners

The two most powerful catchers in the game today renew their rivalry Tuesday night when Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners visit Shea Langeliers and the Oakland Athletics in the continuation of a four-game series.

Raleigh launched his 28th home run of the season in Monday's series opener, but Langeliers one-upped him with Nos. 24 and 25, the latter homer coming in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the ninth for a 5-4 win.

Langeliers was no sure thing to start Monday's game after having been behind the plate for five of Oakland's six games on a just-completed trip through the heat of Cincinnati and Texas. A's manager Mark Kotsay noted he might have considered giving his ironman a day off if he didn't know better.

"He's caught a lot of games for us. He's durable," Kotsay said. "He's got this energy about him ...

"He's quiet, though. If you didn't know the kid, you'd think he's upset every day. But he enjoys the game. He loves being out there. He doesn't ask for days off. He takes care of his body. That's part of his process to make sure he's ready to play every day."

Like his rival, Raleigh played every inning of the Mariners' three-game series in Los Angeles against the Angels over the weekend. He went 0-for-12 in that series, but responded to a fourth consecutive start with a two-run bomb in his first at-bat in Oakland.

The Mariners don't have much of a choice but to burn their top players at this point with a playoff berth slipping away. Monday's third straight loss dropped Seattle (69-69) to .500 and 5 1/2 games out of the last wild-card spot.

Raleigh says it's all hands on deck.

"We have a job to do: Try to win every single game," he said. "We have got to treat it like a sprint and not a marathon. We just have to try to find a way to get it done or we are going to be sitting at home come playoff time."

The Mariners hope veteran right-hander Luis Castillo (11-12, 3.65 ERA) can provide a shot in the arm, as he did in his last start, a 6-2 home win over the Tampa Bay Rays last Wednesday in which he allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings.

The 31-year-old was the winning pitcher in an 8-4 home win over the A's in May, limiting Oakland to two runs in six innings. He has gotten a decision in all six lifetime starts against the A's, going 4-2 with a 3.38 ERA.

Oakland (60-78), meanwhile, is scheduled to give righty J.T. Ginn (0-0, 5.19) his second major league start. The 25-year-old left with a lead in his big-league starting debut last Thursday against the Reds, but didn't get a decision in a 10-9 road loss. He allowed four runs in his five innings.

Ginn hasn't faced the Mariners in his three big-league outings, two of which have been in relief.

--Field Level Media