Seattle Mariners Crush Braves 18-2 Behind Cal Raleigh’s 53rd Homer and 20-Hit Barrage

Sunday, September 7th, 2025

Seattle Mariners Dominate Atlanta Braves 18-2 With Explosive Offense

The Seattle Mariners delivered an offensive masterclass, hammering the Atlanta Braves 18-2 with a remarkable 20-hit performance, their highest run total since 2012. Cal Raleigh set the tone by blasting his major league-leading 53rd home run, while Eugenio Suárez added two more, bringing his season tally to 45. Jorge Polanco and Josh Naylor also went deep as the Mariners hit five home runs for the second game in a row, a feat they had only previously achieved in May 1994.

Mariners' Offensive Outburst

The Mariners seized control early, exploding for eight runs in the third inning with home runs from Polanco and Naylor. Raleigh contributed a three-run blast during a seven-run ninth inning, pushing his RBI total to 113 for the season. Suárez added a solo homer in the sixth and then capped the scoring with a two-run shot in the ninth. This outpouring of offense marked the most runs and hits Seattle had recorded since defeating the Texas Rangers 21-8 in May 2012.

Pitching Highlights and Standings Impact

Seattle's starter Luis Castillo broke his winless streak, allowing just one run and four hits over six effective innings. This victory, the Mariners’ second in a row, helped them open a 1.5-game lead for the third and final AL wild card position over the Kansas City Royals. The Texas Rangers slipped to 73-70 with their third loss in four games after a recent six-game winning streak.

The Braves, meanwhile, scratched starter Spencer Strider before the game, moving him to Tuesday's matchup against the Chicago Cubs. Atlanta’s Joey Wentz struggled, giving up eight runs and eight hits in 2 1/3 innings, matching his career high for runs allowed.

Key Moment

A turning point came in the third inning when, after Raleigh singled, Julio Rodríguez hit a sharp grounder that deflected off Braves third baseman Nacho Alvarez Jr.'s left thigh, rolling into left field for a three-run double. This play helped ignite Seattle's eight-run frame and build a commanding 4-0 lead.

Key Stat

Luis Castillo notched his first win since July 28, having gone 0-2 with a 7.31 ERA in his previous six starts.

Up Next

The Mariners return home Monday night with Bryan Woo (12-7, 3.02 ERA) set to face the St. Louis Cardinals and Miles Mikolas (7-10, 4.89 ERA). The Braves open a series against the Chicago Cubs with Bryce Elder (6-9, 5.54 ERA) taking the mound against Shoto Imanaga (6-9, 3.15 ERA).

In summary

The Seattle Mariners delivered an explosive offensive display, hitting five home runs and posting their highest run total in over a decade to defeat the Atlanta Braves 18-2. Luis Castillo got back in the win column, and Seattle took an important lead in the AL wild card race. With strong contributions up and down the lineup, the Mariners appear poised for a playoff push as the regular season winds down.

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