Raleigh’s walk off ends the playoff drought

By Jessica Roberts on September 30, 2022 • ( 1 Comment )

Cal Raleigh hit a line drive down the right field line in the bottom of the ninth to punch the M’s ticket to the playoffs. It came after both Mitch Haniger and Carlos Santana struck out swinging with a one-all tie.

Mariners. Playoffs. pic.twitter.com/Y3NqIAvYLP
— Jacob Thorpe (@JacobThorpeSR) October 1, 2022

Raleigh came in to pinch hit in the bottom of the ninth.

Seattle scored in it’s first at bat and it’s last, that was all it took for the longest drought in North American professional sports to come to an end. Second year pitcher Logan Gilbert was the main reason Raleigh was in position to hit the game winner because he spun an absolutely magnificent eight innings. It was exactly what the doctor ordered in such a high pressure situation, especially with a bullpen that had been taxed the night before in extras.

Raleigh’s home run, in the bottom of the ninth with the two outs, is not only going to live on in Seattle lore, it’s one of those moments that’s going to live in baseball history for ending the drought in such dramatic fashion. It was a hanging slider that he absolutely punished off of the windows on the Hit It Here Café. The building went absolutely bonkers once they realized the ball was going to go out and the drought was about to end. After how the first month of the season went for the catcher, the fact that he hit the post season clinching home run is an absolutely perfect way to cap off a history season for the young man.

Gilbert’s start deserves more, especially after he bounced back from the dinger he gave up was impressive. There were four strike outs and two walks, but those don’t show how absolutely dominant he was. While he didn’t get the win, he played just a big part in ending the drought as his battery mate.

The first run came when Dylan Moore singled to start off the game then stole second and that was followed up by a Ty France RBI double. Shea Langelier knocked Oakland’s only run with a two-out solo shot in the top of the second.

Enjoy this moment Seattle, we’ve waited a long time for post season baseball to return and now it’s back.