Cal Raleigh starred in the Seattle Mariners’ 6-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 5 of the ALCS, putting the team just one win away from their first World Series appearance. The moment was particularly special for Raleigh, whose girlfriend, Hannah Shimek, cheered him on from the stands at Rogers Center, sharing her excitement on Instagram with the words, “One. Win. Away.”
The Mariners faced a challenging start after losing two consecutive games at home. However, they turned the tide when Eugenio Suarez launched a solo home run in the second inning, giving Seattle an early lead. The Blue Jays retaliated in the fifth with an RBI double from George Springer, which tied the game, and then Addison Barger followed with a single in the sixth to put Toronto ahead.
The momentum quickly shifted back to Seattle in the eighth inning when Raleigh hit a pivotal solo homer to equalize the score at 2-2. His dramatic hit marked his fourth home run of the postseason. With the bases loaded, Suarez then stepped up and delivered a grand slam, drastically increasing the Mariners’ lead and securing the victory.
Raleigh’s performance also made history as he tied Aaron Judge for the most home runs in a single season for the American League, accumulating a total of 64 home runs when combining his regular-season and postseason achievements. Judge set this notable record just three years ago. Raleigh’s father, Matt, celebrated this milestone by sharing the news on social media.
In an outstanding postseason, Raleigh boasts an impressive batting average of .333, with 13 hits, four home runs, seven RBIs, and seven runs scored in just 10 playoff games. The Mariners’ playoff run not only highlights their skill on the field but also the strong camaraderie among the players, as seen by the support in the stands from family and friends.
This season has provided mariners fans with many reasons to be excited, as their team inches closer to a chance to make history in the World Series. The hope is high that Seattle can capitalize on this momentum and bring home a championship.