Cal Raleigh on Monday hit a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Seattle Mariners stormed back from a four-run deficit in the eighth inning to beat the Chicago White Sox 8-4.
Raleigh, also known by a colorful moniker, Big Dumper, launched his walk-off drive against Jordan Leasure (0-2) one inning after the American League West leaders scored four times in the eighth to tie it.
“Big Dumper does what he does,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “Late in games, he always has good at-bats and you know he’s going to get the job done for us there.”
Photo: Steven Bisig-USA Today
Dominic Canzone led off the eighth inning with a homer against starter Erick Fedde, before Michael Kopech gave up three runs and four hits. Mitch Haniger knocked in two with a bases-loaded single, and Luke Raley drove in the tying run with a bunt single.
“It’s a risky play to try to lay down a bunt there, but I was waiting, looking at the third baseman every time, and he was in the first few pitches and he backed up and kind of gave me that lane,” Raley said. “I just decided to take a chance at it.”
J.P. Crawford and Josh Rojas walked with one out in the ninth inning, before Julio Rodriguez’s single loaded the bases. Raleigh drove a 2-0 fastball into the right-field seats to send the Seattle crowd home happy.
“You can be none for four or four for four, it doesn’t matter,” Raleigh said. “When it comes to that moment, you’ve got to kind of slow it down and try to just do whatever it takes to help the team win. So it was a big moment, for sure, and slowing it down definitely helped.”
Ryne Stanek (4-1) struck out three in a scoreless ninth inning for the win.
Luis Robert Jr and Corey Julks homered for the major league-worst White Sox (17-50).
Both starters were dominant early, as Fedde allowed three hits over his first five shutout innings and Mariners starter Logan Gilbert gave up just two hits in the same span.
Korey Lee led off the sixth with a double, and Robert put the White Sox ahead with a two-run homer into the left-field bleachers. Lenyn Sosa made it 3-0 with an RBI single in the seventh, and Julks hit a solo homer in the eighth off reliever Matt Bowman.
Gilbert struck out eight and allowed three runs and six hits over 6-2/3 innings. Fedde went seven-plus innings, giving up one run and five hits.
“Fedde threw the ball great,” Chicago manager Pedro Grifol said.
“Kept these guys off balance all game,” he said.
Elsewhere, the Yankees dethroned the Royals 4-2, the Padres pummeled the Athletics 6-1, the Orioles overcame the Rays 5-2, the Twins routed the Rockies 5-0, the Brewers beat the Blue Jays 3-1 and the Giants edged the Astros 4-3 in 10 innings.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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