Mariners rout Red Sox behind Cal Raleigh's grand slam, Bryan Woo's gem

Adam Jude, The Seattle Times on Jun 18, 2025

Published in Baseball

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His cap turned backward, his near-flawless night complete, Bryan Woo wore an “I (Peach) Cal” T-shirt to the podium for his postgame news conference late Tuesday.

With all the support his catcher has given him of late, Woo reciprocated with some love for Cal Raleigh after the Mariners’ 8-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.

Raleigh’s historic season rolled on with his second grand slam of the season, and Woo allowed only one hit over seven dazzling innings in one of the best performances of his young career.

Woo’s shirt had a “Be a Peach. Vote for Big Dumper!” tag line to support Raleigh’s bid to make his first All-Star game next month in George (the Peach State).

At this rate, the All-Star selection might not be the only accolade for Raleigh, who was showered with “MVP! MVP!” chants from a section of fans sitting behind T-Mobile Park’s home dugout at T-Mobile Park just after the game ended.

“He’s a true professional, and I think he goes about his business the right way,” Woo said. “From his manner day to day, you wouldn’t tell that he’s having the year that he’s having. It’s just the same thing — just keep going to work every day. He’s the first one in, last one out. It’s what you want out of your your catcher and your leader.”

Raleigh’s fourth career grand slam capped a five-run second inning against Boston’s Walker Buehler and propelled the Mariners catcher into the MLB home run lead with 27, one ahead of the Yankees’ Aaron Judge.

Raleigh finished a triple shy of the cycle. He had six RBIs on the day, giving him 60 on the season moving him into a tie with Judge for the American League lead.

Through 71 games, Raleigh’s 27 homers are the second-most by a primary catcher before the All-Star. He needs just one more to match Hall of Famer Johnny Bench.

“It’s great,” Raleigh said. “But, you know, just trying to keep the head down. The minute you look up and start to admire (it all), that’s when the game will come around and put you in your place.”

Woo is getting spoiled by Raleigh, his roommate last year who has taken on something of a big brother role with the 25-year-old right-hander.

Woo was also Mariners’ starting pitcher when Raleigh hit his first grand slam of the season, at Texas on May 2, in a 13-1 thumping of the Rangers.

Beyond just the power numbers, though, the real strength in their pitcher-catcher dynamic comes down to their mutual respect for each other.

It was Raleigh, during a pointed sitdown conversation at Boston’s Fenway Park last summer, who urged Woo to find a consistent routine and pitch to his capabilities.

Since then, Woo has emerged as one of baseball’s most consistent starters, leading all American League pitchers in innings pitched (157) while posting a 3.21 ERA in his last 24 starts.

“He’s that stopper when we need a big game from our starter,” Raleigh said. “And he’s showing up every time — Mr. Consistent. I’m just very proud.”

Woo has thrown at least six innings in all 14 of his starts this season.

Woo allowed only one hit over seven shutout innings, with two walks, one hit batter and six strikeouts. He lowered his ERA to 3.12.

Woo became the first M’s pitcher to throw at least six innings in 14 consecutive starts since Felix Hernandez in 2014 and the first to open a season with 14 such consecutive starts since Randy Johnson in 1993.

Elite company, indeed, and Woo credited Raleigh for setting an example.

“He’s got a very old-school way of going about the game and his business,” Woo said. “And feel like that resonates with me pretty well in terms of, you want to have that workman-like mentality and never (being) satisfied. … I’m always learning from him and super grateful for that relationship.”

Red Sox rookie Marcelo Mayer had Boston’s only hit off Woo to lead off the fifth inning.

Mariners rookie Cole Young just missed his first big-league home run to drive in the first run off Buehler in the second inning.

That scored Rowdy Tellez, who had singled and (surprise!) stole second base for just his fifth career steal in 726 games. Ben Williamson was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first.

J.P. Crawford and Julio Rodriguez worked back-to-back walks against Buehler, who then threw a first-pitch changeup that Raleigh ambushed and sent soaring out to right field.

That gave the M’s a 5-0 lead.

They added three more runs in the third inning on Raleigh’s two-run double down the right-field line.

Raleigh then stole third base and scored on Jorge Polanco’s sacrifice fly.

It was Raleigh’s eighth steal of the season, breaking manager Dan Wilson’s 28-year-old record for most stolen bases in a season by an M’s catcher.

“What can you say about Cal?” Wilson said. “It’s been unbelievable, and he’s been unbelievable.”