Cal Raleigh breaks the AL home run record as the Mariners rout the Tigers 12-3 on July 12, 2025. See how Raleigh's historic night unfolded in Detroit.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Forget the fireworks, the real explosions happened in Detroit. Cal Raleigh didn't just have a good game on Saturday; he had a historic one. In a stunning display of power, the Mariners' backstop blasted two more home runs, shattering the American League record for homers before the All-Star break and etching his name into baseball's history books. His heroics led the charge in a 12-3 thrashing of the Tigers that felt like a statement win for a team heating up at the perfect time.
With his 38th home run, Cal Raleigh broke the American League record for most homers before the All-Star break, a mark that stood for over 50 years.
It was a night that will be replayed for years. Raleigh first tied the record held by Reggie Jackson (1969) and Chris Davis (2013) with a go-ahead solo shot in the eighth inning. But he wasn't done. With the bases loaded in the ninth, he delivered the exclamation point: a grand slam that capped a seven-run inning and sent the visiting dugout into a frenzy. Now sitting at 38 homers, Raleigh is just one shy of Barry Bonds’ all-time MLB record of 39 set in 2001. All eyes will be on him in the series finale.
While Raleigh stole the headlines, this was a crucial team victory against one of the league's best. The Mariners ended Tigers ace Tarik Skubal's three-month unbeaten streak, refusing to back down. The offense broke the game open late, but key contributions came earlier. Rookie Ben Williamson delivered a clutch bases-loaded RBI single, and the M's capitalized on a critical fielding error that allowed Donovan Solano and Luke Raley to score. It was a complete offensive performance that showed this team can win in multiple ways.
On the mound, Luis Castillo wasn't at his sharpest, but he battled through five innings, giving up three earned runs to keep the team in the game and earn the win. The bullpen took it from there, shutting down the Tigers for the final four frames. The exclamation point came from Juan Burgos, who sealed the 12-3 blowout by striking out Colt Keith with a nasty 92 mph cutter. With the recent recall of lefty Tayler Saucedo for Carlos Vargas (paternity list), the bullpen depth was on full display, providing the stability needed to let the offense go to work.
What a way to head into the final game before the All-Star break. The Mariners (now 49-45) are right back in the thick of the AL West and Wild Card hunt, powered by the hottest hitter on the planet. Can Cal Raleigh tie or break the all-time record tomorrow? Can the M's secure a massive series win on the road? One thing is for sure: you won't want to miss a single pitch.
