Cal Raleigh saves the Mariners against the Blue Jays

In the first inning of last night's game (Sunday), the chain seemed to come off for the Seattle Mariners, when George Springer hit Bryce Miller's first pitch over the fence for a home run. Miller then allowed a walk to two of the next three batters. The Rogers Centre was completely engulfed in flames.

But a fireman came to put out the blaze.

Cal Raleigh called a timeout. He lifted his mask over his helmet and took the slowest possible walk to the mound, showing no sign of panic, either in his pilgrimage to the mound or in his discussion with his gunner.

True to form, pitching coach Pete Woodworth was in no hurry to join the meeting on the mound, as most pitching coaches like to do since visits to the mound are limited.

Why didn't he? Let's let him answer.

Because it's Cal's team. I never question what he does. I trust him completely. I don't even know what he told him. I just know it was the right thing. That's always the case with Cal.

The same goes for Miller.

He doesn't usually have much to say. Sometimes he thinks he's got jokes, and I give him a little chuckle, and settle back and carry on. He's always very good with timing. I don't remember the conversation at all, but I'm sure that's how it went.

Raleigh then returned to his desk behind home plate. Six pitches later, the Mariners were back in the dugout. With the potential American League MVP on the mound, Seattle's pitchers retired 26 of the last 28 batters. That was it for the Blue Jays.

And we haven't even mentioned the fact that he also slammed the tying home run, his ^62nd of the season.

This content was created with the help of AI.