CHICAGO – Cal Raleigh, catcher for the Seattle Mariners, broke the home run record for a catcher before the All-Star break, hitting his 28th and 29th home runs, leading Major League Baseball, in his team’s 9-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Friday.
Raleigh surpassed the mark of Johnny Bench, a Hall of Fame member, established in 1970, with his home run number 29.
This was Raleigh’s fifth home run that put his team ahead in the seventh inning or later this season, the most in MLB.
The catcher had three hits in his sixth multi-homerun game of the season, tying Mike Piazza (1995) for second-most such games for a catcher in a season. Raleigh has played in 73 games, while Piazza did so in 112 games. Javy López (2003) leads all catchers in multi-homerun games in a season, with eight in 129 games.
Raleigh, 28 years old, drove in three runs, raising his season total to 63.
Mitch Garver also connected two home runs and drove in five runs, sealing the victory with a three-run homer in the ninth inning. Randy Arozarena and Donovan Solano also contributed with three hits each, helping Seattle win for the fifth time in seven games.
The teams combined for six home runs on a warm, windy day, coinciding with Sammy Sosa’s return to Wrigley Field for the first time in over 20 years.
Ian Happ hit a home run in Chicago’s three-run first inning, and Reese McGuire added a solo home run. Michael Busch had three hits and two RBIs, while the Cubs, leaders of the National League Central Division, suffered their second consecutive loss.
Raleigh hit his home run to take the lead, sending the ball into the left field stands against Caleb Thielbar (2-2). His first home run, in the first inning, barely cleared the fence, against Matthew Boyd.
Eduard Bazardo (2-0) pitched a scoreless sixth inning for the win.
Raleigh Batting Record Historical Home Run Record for Catchers Before the All-Star Game
