Seattle Mariners right fielder Luke Raley went more than three years between multi-home-run games.
Both came at Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox, where Raley and slugging Seattle will look to earn a series victory on Saturday night.
Raley connected for a grand slam and a three-run home run to fuel a 12-8 victory Friday while setting a career high with seven RBIs.
“That guy is so awesome,” teammate Josh Naylor said. “He works his tail off every single day. He studies like a madman. Great teammate. And I think, you know, the game rewards those types of great people where we can’t be any prouder.”
Seattle benefited from Raley’s first multi-homer game since April 30, 2023, at Chicago as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays. He wasn’t the only Mariner to flex some muscle on Friday, though. Naylor had a three-run homer among his three hits and Julio Rodriguez delivered a solo shot.
Chicago lost for the fourth time in five games, but first baseman Munetaka Murakami hit a solo shot in the first inning to tie the Yankees’ Aaron Judge for the MLB lead in homers with 15.
The prized offseason acquisition from Japan also set a major league record by homering in his eighth straight series opener.
“We know that the league is trying to figure him out,” White Sox general manager Chris Getz said, “but he continues to show up and impress. … You look at his determination and his work ethic and his intelligence, I have a tough time thinking he’s not going to get better.”
Sam Antonacci had two hits for the White Sox, who will try to even the series behind left-hander Anthony Kay (1-1, 5.70 ERA). Kay is coming off Sunday’s no-decision at San Diego, as he scattered three runs (two earned) and seven hits in five innings of Chicago’s 4-3 loss.
Kay has yielded multiple home runs in two of his past three starts but said the outing in San Diego was pivotal in regaining his control.
“I was just attacking the zone, you know, getting in good pitcher’s counts,” Kay said. “Only had one walk, and it was a [lengthy] at-bat. Just attacking guys and making sure that we’re in good counts and getting soft contact early in the count.”
Right-hander Luis Castillo (0-3, 6.29 ERA) will start for Seattle on Saturday. After working just 22 1/3 innings over five starts in April, he bounced back in a 4-1 loss against Kansas City on Sunday.
He matched a season high by pitching six innings, scattering four runs and six hits, with two walks and five strikeouts.
“Like I’ve said, sometimes there are obstacles that happen throughout the season,” Castillo said through an interpreter. “And sometimes, there’s bad luck. But it’s not going to last the entire season.”
Castillo is 2-0 with a 1.71 ERA in four career starts against the White Sox, with 28 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings.
Saturday will mark Kay’s first career start vs. the Mariners. He logged four innings of one-hit relief against them while pitching for Toronto in 2021.
–Field Level Media
