sports
Mariners catcher hits grand slam after intentional walk in 8-0 win
Seattle's Cal Raleigh hit a first-pitch grand slam after the Cincinnati Reds intentionally walked the batter ahead of him. The homer broke open a 3-0 game in the seventh inning and led to an 8-0 Mariners victory.
Jul 21, 8:09 AM·1m read1 source
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The Cincinnati Reds trailed the Seattle Mariners 3-0 in the seventh inning with runners at second and third when manager Terry Francona ordered an intentional walk to load the bases. The move brought up catcher Cal Raleigh, who hit a first-pitch hanging breaking ball 408 feet into the left-field bleachers for a grand slam.
The blast gave the Mariners an 8-0 lead en route to the final score. Francona said afterward that he would make the same decision again, citing Raleigh's low batting average and the chance to set up a potential double play.
163 with 10 home runs after hitting 60 the previous season. He also entered Monday with 17 extra-base hits and had gone 0-for-10 in the series immediately after the All-Star break. Seattle improved to 51-50 and moved a half-game ahead of Texas in the AL West.
The win was the Mariners' third straight. Raleigh said the homer meant a lot to him personally and noted the positive energy in the dugout. He added that the team is focused on building on its recent success rather than dwelling on individual performances.
