Mariners slugger Cal Raleigh has broken Mickey Mantle’s record for homers by a switch-hitter. Raleigh hit his 55th of the season off Royals starter Michael Wacha in the third inning of Tuesday night’s game in Kansas City. Raleigh had tied the mark set by the Yankees legend in 1961 with a first-inning drive against Los Angeles on Sunday. Raleigh, who hit 34 homers last season, is now within one of the Seattle record of 56, set by Ken Griffey Jr. Raleigh has already broken Javy Lopez’s record of 43 homers hit by a player while catching in a season.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Mariners slugger Cal Raleigh broke Mickey Mantle's record for homers by a switch-hitter when he hit his 55th of the season off Royals starter Michael Wacha with nobody out in the third inning of Tuesday night's game in Kansas City.
Raleigh had tied the mark set by the Yankees legend in 1961 with a first-inning drive against the Los Angeles on Sunday.
The left-handed hitting Raleigh, who had doubled in his first at-bat of the series-opener against the Royals, fouled off Wacha's changeup and took a sinker for a ball before hammering a hanging curveball 419 feet over the right-field fence.
He got a standing ovation from a small group of Mariners fans behind the visiting dugout. Many Royals fans applauded, too.
Raleigh, who hit 34 homers last season, also moved within one of the Seattle record of 56, which Ken Griffey Jr. set in 1997 and matched the next year. Raleigh already broke Javy Lopez's record of 43 homers hit by a player while playing catcher.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB