Mariners upend Astros on Cal Raleigh's tiebreaking HR

Field Level Media|published: Fri 23rd May, 23:17 2025

May 23, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) is congratulated by Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez (44) after hitting a two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Cal Raleigh slugged a tiebreaking two-run home run in the seventh inning to lift the visiting Seattle Mariners to a 5-3 comeback victory over the Houston Astros on Friday.

Raleigh became the third Mariners hitter to homer on the first pitch of an at-bat when he drilled a slider from Astros reliever Bryan Abreu (1-2) off the right field foul pole with Julio Rodriguez on second base.

Rodriguez greeted Abreu with an RBI double to right field that scored J.P. Crawford from first and erased a 3-2 deficit before Raleigh belted his 17th homer this season.

Rodriguez was scratched from the opener of the four-game set Thursday with back tightness.

Mariners right-hander Emerson Hancock (2-2) benefited from the comeback. He scattered nine hits over six innings and allowed three runs while recording three strikeouts. He retired the Astros in order only once, in the second inning, but stranded three runners across the fourth and fifth.

The Astros stranded 10 baserunners and finished 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position.

Houston erased a 1-0 deficit in the third when Isaac Paredes smacked his 11th home run out to left with two outs, driving in Jeremy Pena, who reached via a hit by pitch. Two innings later, after the Mariners knotted the score at 2-2, the Astros reclaimed the lead in the bottom half of the frame when Christian Walker hit a sacrifice fly to left that scored Paredes.

Hancock surrendering only one run in the fifth after loading the bases with one out proved crucial. He allowed singles to Jake Meyers and Cam Smith in the sixth, but Raleigh erased Meyers as he tried to swipe second base before Smith stroked the second of his three hits.

The Mariners grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third when Leody Taveras smoked a first-pitch fastball from Astros starter Ryan Gusto to right, his third home run covering 398 feet. Miles Mastrobuoni added a first-pitch leadoff homer in the fifth, lofting his first homer 345 feet to left.

Seattle closer Andres Munoz retired the side in order in the ninth for his 17th save.

--Field Level Media

Latest