Cal Raleigh hit a grand slam to regain the major league lead in home runs as the Seattle Mariners put an end to the visiting Boston Red Sox’s six-game winning streak with an 8-0 decision on Tuesday.
The Mariners leveled the three-game series at one win apiece while earning their fourth victory in five games.
Raleigh’s blast, his 27th homer of the season, broke a tie with the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge and capped a five-run second inning against Red Sox starter Walker Buehler (5-5). Raleigh added a two-run double to finish 3-for-4 with six RBIs.
Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo (6-4), who had lost his previous three decisions, allowed one hit over seven scoreless innings. He walked two and struck out six.
Woo hit Boston’s Abraham Toro with a pitch with one out in the first inning, then retired the next 11 batters he faced. Woo didn’t allow a hit until rookie Marcelo Mayer led off the fifth with a line-drive single to right.
The Mariners, who were shut out 2-0 in the series opener on Monday, got things going early as Rowdy Tellez led off the second with a line-drive single to center field and stole second. Ben Williamson drew a one-out walk, and rookie Cole Young lined a double to center, with Tellez scoring before Williamson was thrown out at the plate.
Buehler walked both J.P. Crawford and Julio Rodriguez to load the bases for Raleigh, who hit the next pitch, a hanging changeup, over the wall in right field.
Seattle added three runs in the fourth. Young and Crawford began the frame with singles to right. With one out, Raleigh hit a two-run double down the right field line, chasing Buehler.
Raleigh stole third and scored on Jorge Polanco’s sacrifice fly to left off Zack Kelly. It was Raleigh’s eighth steal of the season, a franchise record for a catcher.
Buehler gave up eight runs on eight hits in 3 1/3 innings, with four walks and two strikeouts.
Boston’s only other hit was a bloop single to center by Nate Eaton leading off the ninth against Andres Munoz. The Mariners closer got an inning of work after having not pitched since June 9 because of a series of losses or blowout wins.
–Field Level Media
