SEATTLE -- In what world could anyone imagine intentionally walking a left-on-left matchup to load the bases and face Cal Raleigh?
That it happened on Monday night underscored just how precipitous the dropoff has been in this 2026 season for the Mariners’ star catcher.
Maybe it was the mental anguish of these remarkably unforeseen struggles that led him to let loose, or perhaps it was the perceived disrespect that he’d be an easy out. But Big Dumper reminded everyone -- and especially the Reds -- what he’s capable of, with one awe-inspiring swing that took us all back to 2025.
On the very first pitch after that fateful decision from Cincinnati skipper Terry Francona, Raleigh demolished a grand slam into the second deck -- sending T-Mobile Park into a frenzy and Seattle toward an 8-0 win.
“Any time you can get the job done and help the team out, you feel good about yourself,” said Raleigh, who’s hitting .163 with a .573 OPS. “Not just because you know you got it done, but because you're helping the team out and you're seeing the smiles and the energy in the dugout and the crowd going crazy.”
The big fly came immediately after Francona brought in lefty reliever Caleb Ferguson, presumably to face lefty-swinging Dominic Canzone. The move made sense, despite Canzone’s improvements against lefties, evolving from a strict platoon to everyday bat.
First base was open and there was only one out, so a bases-loaded situation created a double-play scenario. But even Canzone was perplexed by the decision, hesitating initially before taking first base.
That brought up Raleigh, who was hitless in his past 15 at-bats, who hadn’t homered since July 4 and who’d only cleared the fence twice since returning from the injured list on June 16.
But Raleigh sat back on a hanging slurve that broke right into the middle of the zone -- and drilled it 408 feet to left field for just his second homer batting righty this season.
Asked if he was surprised by the decision, Raleigh simply said: “Yeah, I was.”
How about Mariners manager Dan Wilson?
“It was an interesting situation,” Wilson said. “I'm not sure I saw that coming. But they’re probably looking to get the double play there, or set up the double play at least.”
From the other clubhouse, Francona elaborated on his thought process.
“It’s not a comfortable situation either way,” the 25-year manager said. “Saying that, I’d do that every time. We have to try to keep them from scoring more. Second and third, a guy [Canzone] with a [.993] OPS against lefties, we’re going to have to play the infield in.
“I know what Raleigh’s hitting, and he still worries me. But I thought it was our best chance to have them not score. We could play the infield at double-play depth. And the worst possible outcome happened.”
Entering the seventh, the Mariners only clung to a 1-0 lead, illustrating that runs had been hard to come by. But leading into the slam, Seattle plated two more against righty Pierce Johnson, which prompted Francona to go to Ferguson, a Trade Deadline acquisition by the Mariners last July.
Banking on what would’ve been Raleigh’s sixth double play this season, Cincinnati would’ve stopped the bleeding and kept the game within reach.
The logic wasn’t without merit. More than anything, it spoke to Raleigh’s struggles this season, and that teams are looking to exacerbate them.
Because at this time last year, such a move would’ve been unthinkable.
“It kind of it brings back good memories,” Raleigh said, “like last year in the playoffs, and that's where ultimately where we want to get to.”
One year ago to the day, Raleigh led MLB with 38 homers and was just days removed from winning the Home Run Derby in Atlanta.
He was on top of the world, en route to a historic 60-homer season that led to him finishing runner-up for AL MVP.
Raleigh has come to grips with the fact that last year is over. And a mentality shift, both individually and among the team -- which has won four of its past five and reclaimed first place on Monday -- has put him in a better headspace.
“It’s been a hard year,” Raleigh said. “Overall, it’s frustrating. And I think sometimes, you can start to feel sorry for yourself or get a little frustrated. But understanding that there’s still a lot of season left and we’re still in the hunt of it and we still have a job to do.”