Watch: Mariners open return to playoffs with Cal Raleigh homer

Alek Manoah has been one of baseball’s best pitchers this year, and the All-Star right-hander ended the season on quite the run as he was named American League Pitcher of the Month for September. Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh didn’t get the memo, apparently.

Mariners’ Wild Card roster, Game 1 lineup vs Blue Jays in playoff opener

Seattle was already up 1-0 in the first inning when Raleigh went to the plate thanks to a Julio Rodríguez hit by pitch and an Eugenio Suárez RBI double. After fouling off a few pitches, Raleigh quickly deposited a fastball over the right field wall, giving the M’s a 3-0 lead before starter Luis Castillo ever toed the rubber.

Raleigh’s home run was the first Mariners postseason home run since 2001 All-Star second baseman Bret Boone went deep in Seattle’s postseason run 21 years ago. Raleigh is also the first player in franchise history to hit a home run in his first playoff at-bat, the team announced.

Big homers are nothing new for Raleigh. He hit a walkoff solo shot last Friday, clinching Seattle’s first playoff appearance since that 2001 season.

This most recent shot was received well by fans at the watch party for the game at T-Mobile Park.

The @Mariners and Cal Raleigh keep the party rolling!!! #SeaUsRise pic.twitter.com/yFK00Ujuqo

— Seattle Sports (@SeattleSports) October 7, 2022

For details on watch parties from more Mariners postseason games, click here.

Listen live to the action on Seattle Sports 710 AM with Rick Rizzs, Aaron Goldsmith and Dave Sims on the call, and former M’s third baseman Mike Blowers providing analysis.

Seattle Sports has full coverage from Toronto all series long, including the pregame and postgame shows with host Shannon Drayer.

The announcer cam has gone international. pic.twitter.com/CvYyM4xI4T

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) October 8, 2022

Mariners coverage from Seattle Sports

• GM Justin Hollander: Mariners do 4 things that ‘drive postseason success’
• Drayer’s Mariners Notebook: Excitement, not nerves, evident for M’s in Toronto
• Mariners-Blue Jays a battle of strengths with Seattle’s arms and Toronto’s bats
• How Seattle’s starting rotation looks for Wild Card series
• The defining factors in playoff series between M’s and Blue Jays

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