HOUSTON -- Cal Raleigh quite literally took a foul tip straight into the region that’s a catcher’s worst nightmare on Tuesday night, after taking a metaphorical kick in that area for more than two weeks.
Then, a few minutes later, he snapped a hitless streak that was approaching the most futile in franchise history.
For as brutal as it looked when Raleigh grimaced as he gathered himself after that seventh-inning shot straight off the bat of Christian Walker, maybe it was the jolt to get him going again.
Because one wouldn’t have known how much pain he was in a half-inning later, when sporting as wide of a smile as we’ve seen from him all season after a scorching single into the right-center gap.
It’s not often that an inconsequential hit in a runaway, 10-2 win takes center stage over countless other highlights the Mariners manufactured against the Astros.
But it’s been that kind of year for the reigning runner-up for AL MVP, who’s mostly been in a Big Slumper since Opening Day.
Raleigh’s knock snapped an 0-for-38 that dated back to an April 27 homer in Minnesota, and it was approaching the longest skid in franchise history. The unflattering high is 42 straight at-bats without a hit, by the man who coined Raleigh’s nickname that’s now mainstream -- Jarred Kelenic, who went 0-for-42 during his rookie season in 2021.
Tuesday’s moment was so momentous that the visiting dugout waved towels at Raleigh after he scored on an RBI double from Randy Arozarena, as if he was too hot to cool down. They even tracked the ball down for him, a keepsake to a career rut they hope he never experiences again.
And, as they say, when you’re hot you’re hot -- because Raleigh kept his rally going with another single in the eighth. He went from no hits in 15 days to his sixth multi-hit game of the season.