Story by
How Mariners star Cal Raleigh ended the longest hitless streak of his career
- Story by
- How Mariners star Cal Raleigh ended the longest hitless streak of his career
Photo by Logan Riely/MLB Photos via Getty Images
Cal Raleigh finally ended the longest hitless streak of his career with a single against the Houston Astros , giving the Seattle Mariners catcher a badly needed reset.
The hit mattered because this was not a normal cold spell. Raleigh had gone nearly two full weeks without a hit, and every at-bat was starting to carry the weight of the streak.
Advertisement
That made the single feel bigger than one line in a box score. For a power-hitting catcher who has carried major expectations, simply seeing the ball land safely was the breakthrough.
Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images
Cal Raleigh finally breaks through for the Seattle Mariners
As Talkin' Baseball noted during the Mariners' game against Houston, Cal Raleigh ended the longest hitless run of his career with a clean single.
"Cal Raleigh singles to snap an 0-for-38 stretch, the longest hitless streak of his career and of any player this season."
That number shows how rough the stretch had become. Raleigh had not recorded a hit since April 27 before he finally connected in the seventh inning against Astros reliever Jayden Murray.
Advertisement
He entered that plate appearance already 0-for-2 with a walk on the night. Another empty at-bat would have pushed the story even further into uncomfortable territory.
Instead, Raleigh found a way through. It was not a towering home run or a dramatic extra-base hit, but it did not need to be.
Cal Raleigh slump had become impossible to ignore
The larger issue for Raleigh was that the drought had started to define his form. A catcher known for power was stuck in a stretch where contact, timing, and confidence all looked difficult.
That is why the single mattered beyond the immediate result. Long hitless streaks can shrink a hitter's approach, especially when every swing feels like another public reminder of the problem.
Advertisement
Raleigh's season numbers had already reflected the struggle. His average had dropped under .200, and his strikeout total was climbing while the Mariners waited for his power to reappear consistently.
Seattle can live with swing-and-miss from Raleigh when the home runs and run production are there. It becomes harder when the empty at-bats pile up without damage attached.
The single against Houston did not fix everything. One hit does not erase an 0-for-38 stretch or suddenly restore a full offensive rhythm. But it did end the worst part of the spiral. For Raleigh, that is the first step.
Read more:
Advertisement
