3 Cal Raleigh homers power Mariners past Phillies 9-2

Three home runs from Cal Raleigh turned Monday night in Seattle into a franchise first at T-Mobile Park. The Mariners catcher powered a 9-2 win over Philadelphia, ending the Phillies' nine-game winning streak while Seattle stayed within three games of both the AL West lead and the final American League wild-card spot. For a team that has struggled to sustain momentum in 2026, the timing of Raleigh's breakout was hard to miss.

Why This Is Trending

Raleigh had never hit three homers in a major league game before Monday. He went deep in the first and fifth innings against Zack Wheeler, then added another in the seventh off Chase Shugart, becoming the first Mariners hitter to record a three-homer game at T-Mobile Park.

The performance was especially striking because Raleigh entered the game with only 14 home runs in 2026 after a 60-homer season in 2025. MLB.com reported that his slugging percentage had fallen from .589 last year to .304 entering Monday, the biggest drop in the sport. One night did not erase that season-long decline, but it produced the strongest evidence yet that his swing may be changing at a crucial point in Seattle's playoff chase.

What Happened

Philadelphia scored first, but Seattle immediately overwhelmed Wheeler. Julio Rodríguez launched a three-run homer in the bottom of the first, and Raleigh followed with a two-run shot on a 95 mph fastball up in the zone. The Mariners kept applying pressure with walks and hits, forcing Wheeler to throw 77 pitches through three innings and 94 through four.

Wheeler returned for the fifth and immediately surrendered Raleigh's second homer, followed by a solo shot from Cole Young. Wheeler finished with eight earned runs, five walks and four home runs allowed, matching career highs in earned runs and homers surrendered. The New York Times reported he became the first pitcher in Phillies history to allow at least four homers and five walks in the same game.

Seattle starter Logan Gilbert worked through early traffic and completed five innings, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five. The Mariners bullpen then closed the game with four scoreless innings, allowing no hits and no walks.

What We Know So Far

Raleigh's homers came in the first, fifth and seventh innings, all from the left side of the plate. He drove in four runs and also walked in the third. NBC Sports reported that the game raised his season total to 17 home runs and 51 RBI through 98 games, while his OPS climbed from .579 to .618.

The milestone also placed Raleigh deeper in club history. He tied Jay Buhner and Edgar Martinez for second in Mariners history with 22 multi-homer games, behind Ken Griffey Jr.'s 40. He became the 13th Mariners player with a three-homer game and only the second catcher, joining current manager Dan Wilson, who did it on April 11, 1996.

Rodríguez added his own landmark. His first-inning homer was his 20th of 2026, giving him at least 20 home runs in each of his first five seasons. Seattle Sports reported that he is the first player in Mariners history to begin his career with five consecutive 20-homer seasons.

Why It Matters

The win moved Seattle to 63-69. According to Seattle Sports, the Mariners remained three games behind the Texas Rangers in the AL West and three games behind Cleveland for the final American League wild-card berth. With the regular season entering its final stretch, that leaves Seattle close enough for a late run but with little margin for prolonged slumps.

Raleigh's resurgence matters because Seattle has already seen how dangerous he can be when his power is fully present. MLB.com reported that his August average exit velocity reached 93.3 mph, his highest for any month this season. Since homering in Houston the previous Sunday, he was 7-for-21 with a .500 on-base percentage entering the aftermath of Monday's game.

The other side of the result was Philadelphia's sudden stop. The Phillies had won nine straight after a stretch in which their offense, bullpen and rotation had been under pressure. Their August offense still led the majors in on-base percentage at .370, with the lowest strikeout rate at 14.7 percent and the highest walk rate at 12 percent, but Wheeler's command problems gave Seattle repeated chances to break the game open.

What Happens Next

Seattle now has a direct opportunity to build on a night that combined power, starting pitching and four clean bullpen innings. Raleigh said the final month would reveal what kind of team the Mariners have become after an uneven season, and the standings make that assessment immediate rather than theoretical.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, must determine whether Wheeler's recent control issues are a short slump or something that persists. The New York Times reported that he has walked 16 batters across his last four outings since Aug. 7, his highest total over any four-start span since May 2014, and his August ERA is 5.19.

FAQ

How many home runs did Cal Raleigh hit against the Phillies?

Raleigh hit three home runs in Seattle's 9-2 win, the first three-homer game of his career.

Did Cal Raleigh set a Mariners record?

Yes. He became the first Mariners hitter to hit three home runs in one game at T-Mobile Park.

What is the Mariners' record after beating Philadelphia?

Seattle improved to 63-69 and remained three games back in both the AL West race and the final AL wild-card race.

How did Zack Wheeler perform against Seattle?

Wheeler allowed eight earned runs, four home runs and five walks over four innings, with the runs and homers matching career highs.

How many home runs does Cal Raleigh have in 2026?

NBC Sports reported that Raleigh reached 17 home runs with 51 RBI through 98 games after Monday's performance.