Raleigh belts No. 33, serenaded with 'MVP' chants

SEATTLE -- Cal Raleigh continued his powerfulness surge for the Seattle Mariners, hitting his large league-leading 33rd homer successful a 6-2 victory against the Kansas City Royals connected Monday night.

Raleigh led disconnected the seventh inning with a location tally against reliever Daniel Lynch IV, prompting chants of "MVP! MVP!" from the location assemblage arsenic helium tied Mariners Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. and Sammy Sosa for the third-most location runs deed earlier July successful MLB history.

Only Barry Bonds (39 successful 2001) and Mark McGwire (37 successful 1998) person deed much earlier July 1.

"Everyone is conscionable benignant of amazed of what he's been capable to execute this season," teammate Randy Arozarena, who deed 2 location runs successful Monday's triumph to springiness him 101 for his career, said of Raleigh. "But yeah, he's a large batter. If you asked maine if I was surprised, not really, due to the fact that I get to spot precisely the enactment helium puts successful down the scenes for him to person the occurrence that helium is having now."

Raleigh, who besides had a sacrifice alert successful the fifth, already has an MLB-leading 71 RBIs this season, becoming the fastest Mariners subordinate to deed that full since Bret Boone besides did it successful 84 games successful 2003.

The switch-hitter leads the American League successful slugging percent from some the close broadside of the sheet (.763) and the near broadside (.600) this season. On the past time of June, Raleigh's changeable gave him the third-most location runs earlier August by immoderate switch-hitter successful MLB history; Mickey Mantle had 39 homers earlier August successful 1961 and 34 earlier August successful 1956.

"It's got to consciousness bully for him, and particularly aft not [being] pitched to overmuch successful Texas, but being capable to get pitched to a small spot present contiguous and taking vantage of it," Mariners manager Dan Wilson said.

Raleigh's 30 location runs arsenic a starting catcher this play are tied with Todd Hundley (1996) for the astir earlier August successful MLB history, according to ESPN Research.

Arozarena deed his 100th vocation homer with a solo changeable successful the 4th to springiness Seattle its archetypal run. In the fifth, helium broke unfastened the crippled with a three-run drive, his 10th of the season. It was the archetypal multihomer crippled for Arozarena since July 20, 2024.

George Kirby (2-4) allowed 1 tally and 3 hits successful six innings, striking retired 5 without a walk. He besides permitted conscionable 1 tally and 3 hits implicit six innings his erstwhile clip retired astatine Minnesota.

Royals starter Michael Wacha (4-8) gave up 5 runs and 8 hits implicit 5 innings.

Bobby Witt Jr. had 2 RBIs for the Royals.

ESPN Research and The Associated Press contributed to this report.