NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
After Cal Raleigh walked, struck out and flied out in his first three plate appearances Tuesday, his hitless streak extended to 38 consecutive at-bats.
The Seattle Mariners catcher, who was runner-up to Aaron Judge in American League MVP voting last year after hitting 60 home runs, had the longest hitless streak in a single season since Craig Counsell went 0-for-45 in 2011.
But in the top of the seventh, Raleigh finally got out of his bad situation by placing a single to center field. He stayed hot in the ninth, single to left.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hits a single during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas on May 12, 2026. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)
Derek Jeter once wore a gold thong, at Jason Giambi’s request, to get out of an 0-for-32 slump – he homered in it.
Raleigh didn’t quite reach that milestone, but he had an unorthodox way to help him out of the crisis.
“Logan (Gilbert) gave me some good advice on how to take the bad mojo or juju out of the baseball gods,” Raleigh said.
How exactly did he do that? Well, it was pitcher Bryan Woo who initially told reporters that Raleigh showered in uniform Monday night.
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh runs to first base on a single during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas on May 12, 2026. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)
METS BENEFIT FROM UNLIKELY HELP FROM REFEREES’ COLLISION AS TIGERS’ BASERUNNER IS THROWN TO THE HOME PLATE AT A KEY MOMENT
“So yeah, it worked. He was right, so I have to give him credit where credit is due,” Raleigh added.
“We were all screaming for him and it was definitely a big relief and I know it felt good for Cal,” manager Dan Wilson said.
Coming out of the crisis was not without pain, as Raleigh naturally took a nasty spike near his manhood.
Raleigh led the American League with a Seattle-record 60 home runs and 125 RBIs last season. But he’s hitting just .166 with seven homers and 18 RBIs in 40 games this year.
Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners hits in the second inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas on May 11, 2026. (Tim Warner/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
But he’s now 2 years old for his last 2, and we all know what he can do when it’s hot.
