AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: MARINERS VS BLUE JAYS

October 17, 2025

Cal Raleigh

T-Mobile Park

Seattle Mariners

Postgame 5 Press Conference

Seattle - 6, Toronto - 2

Q. On offense and defense, just in that 8th inning, what were you looking for on that home run, and what was going through a your mind in that double play to Naylor earlier in the game?

CAL RALEIGH: Yeah, I mean, to be honest, we dodged a lot of bullets today. Getting that double play, and then the weird one there at home when Ernie hit it.

So it's what you got to do though, you got to find a way to get through those tough innings, and we were able to make some plays there, which was huge.

Q. What was your advantage point there for Geno's grand slam, and what were your immediate thoughts?

CAL RALEIGH: Yeah, I was just trying to find a place to watch. Obviously the whole dugout was on their feet. So I was just -- he hit it good. He hit it good. He fouled some pitches off and just, I was just saying, just move forward, just get the ball to the outfield. He's so good with runners in scoring position, he always has been. He's a professional hitter and he's smart. Like I said, he didn't just get it to the outfield, he got it over, so that was huge and a great at-bat from him.

Q. You've watched Geno. Can you describe the consistency of his personality, you played with him two different times now. He's grinding through the postseason, but he doesn't seem to change. Have you had a teammate like that before, and can you just tell people who aren't around to see it every day what it's like.

CAL RALEIGH: Yeah, I mean, Geno's a true pro. I guess what I mean by that is he doesn't let results dictate who he is as a person, who he is as a teammate, and how he goes about his business every day. Obviously he hit a little rough patch there a week or two ago, but it never fazed him. He stayed with his approach and he trusted himself, and he's awesome. He's consistent as could be, same guy every day, great teammate, and always brings the energy.

Q. Off the bat with yours, did you know it was gone, and kind of following up on that, what have you made, what adjustments have you made to prepare for lefties coming in to face you late in games when they try to flip you around?

CAL RALEIGH: Yeah, I think -- first of all, when I hit the ball, I thought I got it, and then obviously realized it went so high, and I looked at the Straw, I believe was in left -- and I believe it was him. But he was kind of at the fence kind of waiting up and I was like, I wasn't sure, and then obviously it got enough. So the roof open, you know, maybe a different result, I don't know. But glad I got enough of that one.

And then as far as dealing with that, I think before I just -- a lot of times I get out there and just start swinging and try to hit something hard, but I was patient waiting for my pitch there and understanding that let the game come to me, try and make solid contact, don't need a home run, don't need to try to hit a ball 500 feet, just do something good and adrenaline will usually take over in those moments.

Q. You just mentioned adrenaline. You've been a part of some massive adrenaline moments here in terms of ending the drought and the 15-inning game and all those things. That 8th inning, what did that feel like from your vantage point? Have you been a part of a baseball moment like that? Just how do you kind of describe the adrenaline spike in that?

CAL RALEIGH: Yeah, that was incredible. Yeah, I mean, honestly, the fans and the stadium, they were waiting 26 innings for something like that. Obviously, it didn't deliver the first two games. But when those moments happen, they just exploded. They have been waiting for that, so that was a huge moment. That was probably one of the loudest moments I've ever heard here. So when Geno cleared that wall, it was really, really awesome, just so fun to be a part of.

Q. As you said, the last couple games got away from you early. What in this game made you think, like, this is more Mariner baseball, this is the kind of game that we play here and that we win?

CAL RALEIGH: Yeah, I mean, I think we just grinded through those innings, those middle innings, obviously, and we were able to leave the scoring at a minimum, not let them put up crooked numbers and kind of taking the little, small victories with them just putting up one run each inning. So obviously, we didn't want that, but they're a tough lineup. They're really good, they swing the bat extremely well, they swing at good pitches. So they're tough. Like I said, just being able to minimize that damage and just stay in the fight in those innings and not give up that big hit was the difference-maker.

Q. With the way it ended like that, how meteoric it was, what's the challenge now, practically speaking, to get to Toronto and play in less than two days -- or what is it about your team that you think you can handle this quick turnaround?

CAL RALEIGH: Yeah, I mean, it's that time of year. Guys are -- we're excited. If you can't get up for these games, then you probably shouldn't be here. Our guys are up for the challenge and we have a tough road ahead of us. We know they're a good ball club. We just have to go in there, play our kind of game, be aggressive, do what we do, and try to stay in the moment, for the moment. So just really enjoy it and go out there and try to take care of business.

Q. Adding on that, you lose your first two games here. Talk about the patience and the belief y'all had to get here to win this game.

CAL RALEIGH: Yeah, those first two games were not great. Those were tough ones. Couldn't get things going on either side of the ball there. Today it was just a resilient effort. It was just relying on each other. It was staying in the fight, not giving up. I think, like I said, getting those double plays were huge, and keeping the crooked number off the board. So just a great effort and not giving in. Things went wrong the first two games, and then today, you know, when something bad happened, we stay in it, we don't give up, we don't stop fighting.

Q. You wear 29 as attribute to a family member, it's an important number in the Raleigh family. What does it mean to have 29 be such an important number in Seattle as well?

CAL RALEIGH: Yeah, I mean, I wear it for my uncle who passed away. He means a lot to my family, and I'm glad to do it. Like I said, he was a big impact on my dad and the rest of his family as well. Like I said, I never, it's kind of a cool thing that was kind of a coincidence how it happened, but I'm very glad it did that way.

Q. In retrospect, probably one of biggest outs of the game was Vlad there with Brash on the mound. How did you approach that really important plate appearance?

CAL RALEIGH: He's unbelievable. He's one of the best hitters in the game, and he's as hot as anybody right now. So, I mean, to be honest, you just got to execute. Even if you do execute, sometimes he still gets you. He's a great hitter. And Brash, got to tip the cap to him, he made some really good pitches to him, was able to tie him up a little bit there with that sinker on that last pitch. But like I said, he's a very smart hitter, too. I think a lot of people don't give him credit for that. But obviously he's amazing with his talent, but very smart as well.

Q. With Woo, your thoughts on how his stuff looked out of the bullpen tonight.

CAL RALEIGH: Yeah, I thought he did great. Again, you got to give them credit. They hit his fastball, which is his best pitch. But those were two big innings. Tip the hat to Kirk and Ernie as well. They hit some pitches. The one to Ernie kind of leaked a little bit, but the Kirk one was a good pitch. I thought he looked good. He looked sharp. I was actually, you know, kind of surprised at how sharp he was for not pitching so long. I thought he executed pretty well today.

Q. On the topic of execution, Bryce, just how he's pitched the last couple games. He started you guys off with a win, he ended your home stand here with a win. It seems like that these past two starts he's really expanded his arsenal more than he was able to in the regular season. What have you noticed from your vantage point how he's been able to execute these past two starts for him?

CAL RALEIGH: Yeah, I think he's doing a great job of using all the pitches. I think with this lineup and any team you're facing this time of year, you have to mix. You can't rely on one pitch or maybe even two. I mean, obviously there's the outliers who have those really good 1-2 combos. But he's doing a great job of mixing, moving. Like I said, you just got to stay a step ahead of these guys, and he's done a really good job of that. I thought he threw the ball really good again today, being able to mix. He has to be able to use that full arsenal, and be able to locate different areas of the zone, which I thought he did a really good job of today again.