Historic day for Cal Raleigh as Logan Gilbert breaks his own record
In a crucial midweek matchup, the Seattle Mariners secured an 11-4 victory over the Oakland A's, thanks in large part to the stellar performance of pitcher Logan Gilbert.
Gilbert delivered one of his best outings of the season, setting a career high with 13 strikeouts. The right-hander faced 22 hitters over six innings, throwing first-pitch strikes to 18 of them.
Gilbert, who missed six weeks due to a flexor tendon strain earlier in the season, adjusted his mechanics to work with a more north-south mindset and focus on a downhill angle. This strategy paid off, as he generated a career-high 25 swings-and-misses on his pitches.
Despite the impressive performance, Gilbert expressed frustration about his season thus far, stating he has not felt like he's completely clicked at any point. However, he showed cautious optimism, saying, "It was only one day, but we're on the right track."
Meanwhile, catcher Cal Raleigh, who was selected in the same 2018 draft as Gilbert, broke the Major League Baseball record for most home runs by a catcher in a season. Raleigh slugged a pair of homers during the game, bringing his total to 33 for the season.
Raleigh noticed the improvement in Gilbert's pitching during the game and praised him for his critical role in any future success for the Mariners in his postgame interview. "Logan was outstanding today," Raleigh said. "His performance was a big part of our win, and he's going to be key for us moving forward."
Unfortunately, Raleigh struck out in his third at-bat during the game. Despite this, his historic home run performance overshadowed the strikeout, making it a day to remember for both him and Gilbert.
The Mariners will look to build on this momentum as they continue their quest for a playoff spot. Gilbert, for his part, will aim to maintain his improved form and help the team achieve their goals.
