The Seattle Mariners avoided a disastrous series sweep on Wednesday afternoon, thanks to a late-inning hero who is quickly making himself at home in the Pacific Northwest. Josh Naylor delivered a clutch, two-out walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning to secure a 5-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics, snapping Oakland's impressive seven-game road winning streak in the process.
Josh Naylor and Cal Raleigh Spark the Comeback
After the Athletics tied the game in the top of the ninth, the Mariners needed a spark to avoid extra innings. They found it in the heart of their order. Cal Raleigh, who has been the most consistent power threat for Seattle lately, started the rally with a two-out single. Julio Rodríguez followed with a base hit of his own, setting the stage for Naylor.
Facing Athletics reliever Joel Kuhnel, Naylor didn't waste any time. He lined a first-pitch cutter into left field, allowing Raleigh to slide home safely and ignite a celebration at T-Mobile Park. The walk-off hit capped a 3-for-5 day for Naylor, who has been working to raise his batting average during a slow start to the 2026 season.
Cal Raleigh Continues Power Surge
While Naylor provided the final blow, the Seattle Mariners would not have been in a position to win without the continued excellence of Cal Raleigh. The Mariners' catcher launched a solo home run to right field in the third inning off A's starter Aaron Civale. It was Raleigh’s fifth home run of the season and his third in as many games.
Raleigh finished the day 3-for-5, recording his first three-hit game of the year. His recent power surge has been a bright spot for a Mariners offense that collected a season-high 14 hits in the win. Rodríguez also contributed significantly, extending his on-base streak to 19 games with a pair of singles and an RBI groundout in the seventh inning that briefly gave Seattle a 4-3 lead.
A Bizarre Moment for Logan Gilbert
The game featured one of the strangest defensive plays of the season in the very first inning. Mariners starter Logan Gilbert was struck by a 107.8-mph comebacker off the bat of Carlos Cortes. In a rare twist, the ball became lodged inside Gilbert’s jersey. After a brief huddle by the umpires, Cortes was credited with a single.
Gilbert remained in the game after being checked by trainers but struggled through four innings, allowing three runs on six hits. The Seattle bullpen took over from there, largely silencing the Athletics' bats until the ninth inning when Nick Kurtz launched a 438-foot game-tying home run off closer Andrés Muñoz. Despite the blown save, Muñoz earned the win after the Mariners' walk-off heroics.
Looking Ahead
The Seattle Mariners (who won for just the third time in nine games) will look to build on this momentum as they head out on a six-game road trip. The journey begins on Friday in St. Louis, where George Kirby (3-2, 2.97 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound against the Cardinals. Meanwhile, the Athletics return home to face the Texas Rangers, looking to restart their climb in the AL West standings.
Sources & Original Reporting
