Aug. 9, 2025: Seattle Mariners edge Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 as Cal Raleigh’s 44th HR and J.P. Crawford’s late double back 6.2 IP from Kirby; Muñoz nails save No. 28.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
On a playoff-feel Saturday at T-Mobile Park, the Mariners outlasted the Rays 3-2 for their sixth straight home win, leaning on Cal Raleigh’s 44th homer, a go-ahead J.P. Crawford double, and 6.2 sturdy innings from George Kirby before Andrés Muñoz slammed the door for save No. 28. Seattle is 65-53 and remains one game behind Houston in the AL West.
“Cal’s been the heart of our lineup all year. He just keeps coming up big.” — Scott Servais
This is the formula the Mariners want in August: elite run prevention, timely thump, and late-inning calm. Against a disciplined Tampa Bay club and starter Zach Eflin, Seattle found just enough swing damage and strung together the decisive seventh. The win pushed the Mariners to six in a row at T-Mobile and kept the pressure squarely on the Astros. At 65-53, Seattle is tracking toward a high-80s-to-90-win pace, and nights like this—tight, precise, and composed—play in October. The bigger picture: the Mariners are reinforcing home-field swagger while staying within striking distance of the division.
Raleigh’s solo blast to right in the sixth off Eflin was the kind of no-doubter that changes the temperature of a game. He’s up to 44 homers and 94 RBIs, leading all MLB catchers in long balls. Beyond the raw totals, the context matters: he’s producing in leverage, living to the pull side when he gets something on the inner-third, and punishing mistakes up. He’s now squarely on the single-season catcher home run leaderboard watch and, more importantly for Seattle, he’s the heartbeat of the lineup. When he swings like this, opposing pitchers have to navigate the entire middle of the order differently.
Crawford’s go-ahead double in the seventh was classic J.P.—short to the ball, line-drive intent, situational awareness. He’s been Seattle’s tone-setter at the top and a steadying presence when the at-bats get tight. The Mariners don’t have to string five hits together to score when they pair Raleigh’s power with Crawford’s gap control, and that combination showed up at the exact right moment.
Kirby carved for 6.2 innings, allowing two runs with seven strikeouts. The Rays put together competitive swings, but Kirby’s combination of zone command and above-average ride carried the night. He handed off with the game in reach, exactly what a rotation anchor is supposed to do in August. The efficient length also preserved the bullpen for the rest of the weekend.
When the ninth rolled around, it was Muñoz time. The right-hander finished it for his 28th save, leaning on premium velocity and the slider that keeps righties guessing. With no new injury news and roles defined, the back end looks settled—critical with the standings this tight.
No new transactions or injuries on August 9. The most recent moves remain Collin Snider’s outright to Triple-A Tacoma (Aug. 3) and Trent Thornton’s placement on the 15-day IL with a torn left Achilles (Aug. 1). Stability matters as Scott Servais leans on a consistent group for the stretch run.
In Double-A Arkansas, 19-year-old top prospect Colt Emerson turned a highlight-reel running catch and fired to first to double off a runner—a reminder that the system’s next wave is both athletic and instinctive. Emerson is hitting .288 with 7 homers and 41 RBIs this season. With J.P. anchoring the big-league infield, Seattle’s long-term middle-infield pipeline looks healthy, giving the front office future flexibility without sacrificing present contention.
What’s next: the Mariners go for more against the Rays on Sunday with a chance to extend the home heater, take the series, and keep the heat on Houston. The blueprint doesn’t change—control the zone, win the margins on defense, and let the middle of the order do damage. If Seattle keeps stacking nights like this, the division race will stay white-hot into September.
