Not every milestone moment in baseball involves a bat or a glove. Sometimes, it’s the words of a mother, soft, sincere, and from the heart, that quietly steal the spotlight.

That’s what happened during the final showdown between the Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners. Sure, the game had it all. Intensity, back-to-back bombs, and extra-inning drama. But the real headline came after the dust settled. It wasn’t a walk-off hit or a jaw-dropping play. It was Stephanie Raleigh, mother of the Mariners’ $105 million star, who captured the hearts of fans everywhere.

At the heart of it all was the Mariners’ $105 million star, Cal Raleigh. Yes, it’s the same guy who hit back-to-back home runs along with Randy Arozarena during the ninth inning against the Reds. Ultimately, the Mariners rallied through an 11-7 win in the 10th inning. For the Seattle Mariners, it marked their first road series win of the season. It wasn’t Cal’s performance that topped the headlines; it was Stephanie Raleigh, Cal’s mom, whose adorable and rare in-game interview has grabbed the attention of the entire Mariners’ nation.

In fact, she had a beautiful message for Seattle. She addressed, “I just want to say thank you to all of Seattle for loving my kid, because you got a pretty good one!” She felt beyond grateful to witness the love Cal has been receiving from the fans hailing in and out of Seattle. Interestingly, during the chit-chat, she was also asked to critique Cal’s throw. She grinningly replied, “Well, you’re asking his mom about that, so I’m going to say he’s the best ever. Everything he does is perfect — that’s the critique. I’d say, Yay.” She barely cares about the techniques or mechanics. All she sees is her son behind the uniform.

She also acknowledged that in the ever-evolving world of baseball, there’s always going to be ups and downs. “You know you want him to do well at every single game, but that’s never going to happen at every single game. There are ups and downs; it’s just baseball.” She was simply honest about this. It’s a harsh reality every athlete comes to terms with.

However, the one feeling Stephanie holds onto the most is when “he {Cal} comes to the dugout and looks out and gives you a thumbs up; it’s a really, really good feeling.” It means the world to the woman who has been cheering for her son long before the majors were in the picture.

The Mariners aced it on the field this time, but for the time being, it’ll be the words of Cal’s mom that truly captured the essence of the matchup. After the impressive 11-7 win against the Reds, the Mariners are now gearing up to go against the Toronto Blue Jays.

What to expect: the Mariners vs the Blue Jays

After coming off strong against the Cincinnati Reds, the Seattle Mariners are all set to face off against the Toronto Blue Jays on 18th April, 2025, at the Rogers Centre.

Unsurprisingly, the Mariners are entering with their real power threat, Cal Raleigh. This season, he’s leading with eight home runs, and he’s ranked second in the overall league. Raleigh sits at a .286 batting average across his last five appearances. Another explosive talent the Mariners are betting on is Randy Arozarena.

He’s leading the team with 14 RBIs, and in home runs, he sits at 27th in the league. His batting average is .313 over the past five appearances. Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays aren’t holding back either. Their most powerful bat, Bo Bichette, hits .305 with 11 RBIs. Their most reliable force?

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sits at a .292 batting average. Not to mention, this time the Blue Jays are counting on Andres Gimenez, who leads them in home runs with three.

Let’s just say the odds this time couldn’t be any tighter. It can all come down to one inning, one hit, or one mistake to make this matchup one critical battle. Excited?