What They Said: Mariners on Cal Raleigh after his 3-HR game

Cal Raleigh was off to a modestly good start to the the current Seattle Mariners homestand.

With Cal now on the list, here’s every Mariners 3-HR game ever

He hit a three-run home run in his first plate appearance after the M’s got home to face the Chicago Cubs on Friday. Then he checked in with a single hit in each of the next two days, taking a small hitting streak into Monday’s series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies, who were the hottest team in baseball, having won nine straight.

Then Raleigh stopped being modest and started being loud with his bat.

Raleigh blasted three home runs in a game for the first time in his career, leading the M’s to a 9-2 win as they try to inch their way back into playoff position.

Even with the big night, Raleigh is still sitting at some dreadful numbers for the season – .167/.282/.336 slash line for a .618 OPS in 98 games. But now there’s renewed hope that he can play more like the player he was in previous years over the final month to help lead the Mariners at the most crucial point in this season.

Following Raleigh’s three-homer night, here’s what three Mariners – manager Dan Wilson, starting pitcher Logan Gilbert and Raleigh himself – had to say about where Seattle’s star catcher is now.

Dan Wilson

“This is the time of year, it’s about winning, and I think that we all know that that’s what drives Cal. And the way our team has played, these last 10 days, call it 10 days or so, we’ve played some of our better baseball and we’ve put up some W’s. I think it makes it more fun, and he’s a huge contributor to those wins all the time because of what he does behind the plate, and I think now what we saw tonight, (he) was a big contributor on both sides of the plate. Just a great ball game for him all around.”

“His at-bats have been getting better, and I think in that last series, I think he had a hit each ball game that he played. Finding the barrel more often, taking his walks more often, swinging at better pitches more often, and tonight was just a combination of all of that again. To get up there and do it left-handed like he did tonight, I think all of us love to see it and love to see the smile and just all the work that he’s put in.”

Logan Gilbert

“I think just being able to take that breath and have some freedom – that’s the biggest thing in this game is just having freedom. He knows, the whole season, how good he is still, but I think it’s just about letting it happen. We can all get tight at times, so that’s just huge. I think the confidence and get rolling. You how this team does when he gets hot and he gets rolling, so I think we’re in a good spot.”

Cal Raleigh

“Obviously you’re always fine-tuning your swing, doing stuff like that. But at the same time, just having belief in yourself and trusting in what you do and and just executing when you get that pitch.”

“I’ve been feeling better in the box. I feel like I’ve been seeing the ball pretty well. I told you that like a week ago, and I think physically trying to get my hands back sooner, and I feel like I’ve done a better job of that. And then mentally it’s just been about, like I said, that belief and just having that hope and that optimism every single day and not getting too down, not getting too up, and trying to just be ready and prepared for the game.”

“I think it all starts with the fastball. I think that’s been the hard part this year is just obviously missing some fastballs here and there and put myself in bad counts. I’ve said it before, I don’t feel like I lose at bats when I pop up or strike out. I feel like it’s when you do get that mistake, and at this level in the big leagues, when they do make that mistake, it’s about capitalizing on it and making sure that you are moving it forward and you are taking advantage, because they’re so good.”

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