The Seattle Mariners delivered a historic and electrifying performance at T-Mobile Park on September 14, 2025, not only overwhelming the Los Angeles Angels 11-2 but also seizing sole possession of first place in the American League West for the first time this late in a season since 2001. With just 12 games left on the schedule, the Mariners have now rattled off a season-high nine-game winning streak, sending a clear message to the rest of the league: this team is for real, and they're not slowing down.
Seattle’s latest victory was powered by a barrage of offense and a pitching clinic that left the Angels reeling. The hero of the day? None other than Cal Raleigh, whose first-inning blast not only launched the Mariners into an early lead but also etched his name into the MLB record books. Raleigh’s 54th home run of the year tied the legendary Mickey Mantle for the most homers by a switch-hitter in a single season, a feat that had the home crowd roaring and his teammates mobbing him in the dugout. According to ESPN, "Raleigh’s record-tying blast in the first inning put Seattle in front 2-0, and it was all Mariners from the rest of the way."
But Raleigh’s fireworks were just the beginning. The Mariners’ lineup erupted for three more runs in the third inning, highlighted by an RBI double from Julio Rodríguez and a run-scoring double from Dominic Canzone. If you thought the Angels might recover, think again. The fourth inning turned into a merry-go-round, as Seattle sent 11 batters to the plate and piled up six runs on six hits and two walks. Canzone and Josh Naylor each drove in three runs on the day, while Rodríguez tallied two doubles and two RBIs, continuing his red-hot stretch at the plate.
Jorge Polanco also made franchise history, smacking three doubles to tie Jim Presley’s 1986 club record for seven consecutive games with a double. Polanco’s streak is now the longest in Major League Baseball this season, underscoring just how much of a game-changer he’s been since joining the Mariners. Over his last 11 games, Polanco is batting a scorching .395, with 15 hits, 10 RBIs, and a slugging percentage north of .760. Talk about a hot hand!
As impressive as the offense was, the Mariners’ pitching staff continues to be the backbone of their playoff push. George Kirby, coming off two rough outings, rebounded in spectacular fashion. Perfect through 4 1/3 innings, Kirby finished with 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball, allowing just three hits and striking out a career-high-tying 14 batters. Kirby retired the first 13 Angels he faced, fanning nine of them, and improved to 3-0 with a 2.79 ERA and 37 strikeouts over 19 1/3 innings against the Angels this season. As noted by local broadcaster ROOT Sports, "The right-hander earned the win in a bounce-back performance, allowing just two runs and three hits while tying his career high with strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings."
Kirby’s gem followed Bryan Woo’s 13-strikeout performance the night before, marking back-to-back games with Mariners starters racking up at least 13 Ks. That’s no fluke. Seattle is the first MLB team since the 2018 Houston Astros and Cleveland Guardians to have three different starters each record a 13+ strikeout game in a single season. In fact, the only team in baseball history to have more pitchers accomplish that feat was the 1969 Astros, who had four. The Mariners’ rotation, featuring George Kirby, Bryan Woo, Logan Gilbert, and Bryce Miller, has been nothing short of dominant since mid-August, boasting a 26% strikeout rate and a walk rate just over 6%—both among the best in baseball.
The bullpen, too, has been lights out. During Seattle’s nine-game winning streak, Mariners relievers have posted a 0.25 ERA, allowing just one earned run in over 35 innings, with a WHIP of 0.65 and holding opponents to a paltry .149 batting average. Nine different relievers have contributed to this remarkable run, showcasing the depth and resilience of the staff.
Seattle’s offensive depth is just as impressive. The Mariners now have three players with at least 25 home runs this season—Raleigh (54), Rodríguez (30), and Randy Arozarena (27)—with Jorge Polanco sitting at 24 and poised to make it four. If Polanco joins the club, it will be only the third time in franchise history that four Mariners have reached the 25-homer mark in a single season, a testament to the team’s power surge.
Julio Rodríguez continues to dazzle, both at the plate and on the bases. Over his last 56 games, Rodríguez is batting .306 with 42 runs, 13 doubles, 19 home runs, and 45 RBIs, while swiping 11 bags. His 165 hits this season rank among the league leaders, and his 50 multi-hit games are second only to Toronto’s Bo Bichette. Josh Naylor, acquired in late July, has also made an immediate impact in Seattle, batting .333 with five home runs and 10 stolen bases in just 21 home games at T-Mobile Park.
With the win, Seattle improved to 82-68, one game ahead of the Houston Astros in the AL West and three games clear of the Texas Rangers. The Mariners and Astros are locked in a 5-5 tie in their season series, setting the stage for a critical three-game showdown in Houston starting September 19. The outcome of that series could very well decide the division and the head-to-head tiebreaker that might come into play for playoff seeding.
The Mariners’ current run is their best stretch at home since the All-Star break, going 22-6 in their last 28 games at T-Mobile Park. The energy in the stadium has been palpable, and with 12 games left—including six on the road at Kansas City and Houston before finishing at home against Colorado and the Dodgers—the city of Seattle is buzzing with playoff anticipation.
As the regular season winds down, the Mariners’ blend of power, pitching, and resilience has them in a position few predicted back in April. Cal Raleigh’s record-tying home run, George Kirby’s dominance on the mound, and contributions up and down the lineup have propelled Seattle to the top of the division. The next two weeks promise to be a wild ride, with every game carrying playoff implications and historic milestones within reach.
Seattle fans are daring to dream again, and if the Mariners keep playing like this, those dreams might just become reality. The final road trip begins Tuesday in Kansas City with Logan Gilbert set to take the mound, and all eyes will be on Houston later in the week when the Mariners and Astros battle for AL West supremacy. Stay tuned—the best may be yet to come.
