Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) reacts after hitting a two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning at Daikin Park on May 23. Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh Create Recent History with Late-Game Heroics on Friday

Originally posted on Seattle Mariners on SI
By Brady Farkas | Last updated May 24, 2025 12:15 PM ET

The Seattle Mariners beat the Houston Astros 5-3 on Friday night at Daikin Park, moving them to 29-21 on the season.

With the win, Seattle regained a 3.5-game lead over Houston in the American League West. They are trying to win their first division title since the 2001 season.

Down 3-2 in the top of the seventh inning, Julio Rodriguez hit a game-tying double off reliever Bryan Abreu and then Cal Raleigh hit a two-run homer which eventually became the game-winner.

And according to Daniel Kramer of MLB.com (via Mariners PR), both players created some recent history with their late-game heroics.

Rodríguez now has 11 game-tying RBis in the seventh inning or later since his rookie year in 2022, tied for second-most in MLB in that span with former Mariners slugger Eugenio Suárez. Moreover, Raleigh now has 11 go-ahead homers in the seventh or later in that same span, an MLB-best.

Cal Raleigh went into orbit last night here in Houston, with one of the biggest home runs in recent Mariners memory that came with the appropriate stakes.

“Be ready to go from the first pitch --because that could be the one that could change the game.”https://t.co/sJSJRBxRQr
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) May 24, 2025

Raleigh's late-game home run totals are even more than Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, showing just how special the M's backstop has become. A Platinum Glove winner in 2024, Raleigh is now hitting .258 with 17 homers and 35 RBIs. His 17 homers are tied for the league-lead. He's also carrying a .373 on-base percentage.

The Mariners will be back in action on Saturday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. PT. Bryan Woo will take the ball for the M's against Framber Valdez in the best matchup of the weekend.

Woo has gone 5-1 with a 2.65 ERA while Valdez is 3-4 with a 3.57.

This article first appeared on Seattle Mariners on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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