Cal Raleigh's historic 43rd HR powered the Mariners past the Rangers 5-3 on Aug 1, 2025. Logan Gilbert shined in the win as Seattle welcomed Eugenio Suárez.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night of new beginnings and familiar heroics at T-Mobile Park. With newly acquired third baseman Eugenio Suárez watching from the dugout, the Seattle Mariners kicked off August with a jolt of energy, defeating the rival Texas Rangers 5-3 behind a masterful performance from Logan Gilbert and another history-chasing blast from Cal Raleigh.
With his 43rd home run, Cal Raleigh is on pace to break the single-season home run record for a catcher.
The atmosphere was electric Friday night, and not just because of the crucial division matchup. The buzz was for Eugenio Suárez, acquired just before the deadline, who was in uniform and ready to contribute. While he didn't start, his presence was felt as the team played with renewed purpose. After trading blows to a 2-2 tie, the game's pivotal moment arrived in the 6th inning. Cal Raleigh stepped to the plate and did what he does best, launching a go-ahead, two-run homer—his 43rd of the season—into the Seattle night. The 'Big Dumper' now has 89 RBIs on the year. The offense was also paced by a locked-in Julio Rodríguez, who went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. On the mound, Logan Gilbert was dominant, carving up the Rangers for 6.2 innings while allowing just two runs and striking out eight. Andrés Muñoz shut the door for his 28th save, sealing a massive series-opening win.
The biggest news of the day was the official arrival of Eugenio 'Geno' Suárez from the Arizona Diamondbacks. In a clear 'win-now' move, the Mariners' front office sent a package of prospects—first baseman Tyler Locklear and right-handers Hunter Cranton and Juan Burgos—to Arizona. While parting with a top-10 prospect in Locklear stings, the Mariners get a former All-Star who brings immediate power and a veteran presence to the hot corner. This trade signals management's belief that this team is ready to make a serious push for the AL West crown.
To make room for Suárez on the roster, the Mariners optioned promising rookie Ben Williamson back to Triple-A Tacoma. The team also recalled utility infielder Miles Mastrobuoni from Tacoma to provide depth. Unfortunately, the good news was tempered by a tough break for Luke Raley, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with recurring back spasms. Raley's power and versatility will be missed, and his timetable for a return remains uncertain.
The victory pushes the Mariners to 58-52 on the season and, more importantly, trims the Houston Astros' lead in the AL West to just 4.5 games. Beating a division rival like Texas is exactly the kind of statement the team needed to make after their aggressive deadline move. Every game from here on out carries significant weight, and starting a critical homestand with a win sets the perfect tone for the final two months of the season.
With a new power bat in the lineup and a belief that's palpable, the Mariners have signaled their intent for the stretch run. The trade deadline is over, the pieces are in place, and the road to October just got a whole lot more interesting in Seattle. The rest of this series against the Rangers is now a must-watch.
