Raleigh's late exit (right side discomfort) adds injury to sloppy loss

HOUSTON -- It wasn’t the Mariners’ most deflating defeat of the 2026 season, but it might’ve been their most exhausting.

And a casualty of the 4-3, walk-off loss to the Astros that reached the 10th inning was their star catcher, as Cal Raleigh was forced to exit to begin the bottom of the ninth when the right side discomfort he experienced earlier this month resurfaced.

The Mariners did not have much of an update postgame, as Raleigh preferred to speak before Thursday’s matinee instead.

“He’s fine,” manager Dan Wilson said. “It was just, again, kind of precautionary at this point, and we'll know more tomorrow.”

Asked if the Mariners are considering a possible stint on the injured list, Wilson said: “We'll see how it is tomorrow and go from there.”

Raleigh was seen grimacing when backing up a relay throw from Julio Rodríguez on a costly error from Eduard Bazardo in the eighth, just before Houston tied the game.

Then, Raleigh held off throwing to first base on a would-be, 6-2-3 double play that would’ve helped Seattle escape that jam clinging to a one-run lead.

Instead, the play resulted in a forceout at the plate for the first out, and in the next at-bat, Jose Altuve hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly for the second out. Had the double play been made -- which, to be sure, would’ve been a close call and tough play regardless -- Altuve’s ball would’ve instead been a flyout and stranded the go-ahead run on third base.

“Just a play on defense and just kind of was awkward for him,” Wilson said. “So, as a precaution, we said, 'Let's get you out tonight and we'll assess tomorrow.'”

It’s unclear if Raleigh needs more imaging, or if the Mariners will shuttle Jhonny Pereda from Triple-A Tacoma overnight as a just-in-case measure. Mitch Garver, who took over for Raleigh behind the plate, would presumably start regardless, with it being a day game after a night game -- even against right-hander Mike Burrows.

Raleigh, who’s in his sixth season but has never been on the IL, missed three games earlier this month, when the issue first surfaced.

Wilson has a tendency to downplay these things and without much detail, and Wednesday was the exact same. But it was also his call to remove Raleigh, who was seen with his helmet on in the top of the ninth getting ready to hit, before Brendan Donovan emerged in the on-deck circle for his spot.

Donovan, who had a scheduled off-day for load management purposes for his own recent injury, didn’t wind up hitting until the 10th.

“I saw the discomfort and I knew that he wasn't going to be able to hit,” Garver said of Raleigh. “But it made it difficult, because they had the lefty in there in the ninth. So it was like -- and I'm not going to speak for Dan -- but like, “Do I hit? Or do you save me for Cal's spot?’”

“It was a tough decision to make. We had pretty much just exhausted our whole bench, and then we tied the game. And it's like, [darn]. Now what do we do?”

Garver entered as a pinch-hitter for Leo Rivas in the ninth, four batters before Raleigh’s turn was due up. Then Garver worked a gritty, eight-pitch walk vs. lefty Bryan King that included a close take -- with two outs -- for ball four that prompted an ABS challenge from Astros catcher Christian Vázquez.

It was one of three walks in the frame, capped with a bases-loaded free pass to Rodríguez that tied the game at 3-3. That brought Josh Naylor to the plate, who nearly kept the rally going with a swinging bunt, but he was out by a heel at first base, just after Garver crossed the plate for the would-be go-ahead run.

It was close enough that Wilson challenged, but the ruling was upheld after a lengthy replay review.

“From the dugout, you feel like he was safe,” Wilson said. “And it's one of those calls that I think that what's called is probably going to stand because it is so close.”

The Mariners then couldn’t capitalize in the 10th, stranding two more runners to bring their night’s total to 11, over which they went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

That put a sour finish on the 2026 debut of Bryce Miller, who was as good as the club could’ve hoped for -- with two runs over 5 1/3 innings.

“Like a playoff game, almost -- but not a good playoff game,” Garver said. “Both teams had opportunities to score.”