Mariners' Cal Raleigh belts MLB-leading 33rd homer before July - ESPN

SEATTLE — Cal Raleigh continued his power surge for the Seattle Mariners, hitting his major-league-leading 33rd homer in a 6-2 victory against the Kansas City Royals on Monday night.

Raleigh led off the seventh inning with a home run against reliever Daniel Lynch IV, prompting chants of «MVP! MVP!» from the home crowd as he tied Mariners Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. and Sammy Sosa for the third-most home runs hit before July in MLB history.

Only Barry Bonds (39 in 2001) and Mark McGwire (37 in 1998) have hit more before July 1.

«Everyone is just kind of amazed of what he's been able to accomplish this season,» teammate Randy Arozarena, who hit two home runs in Monday's win to give him 101 for his career, said of Raleigh. «But yeah, he's a great batter. If you asked me if I was surprised, not really, because I get to see exactly the work he puts in behind the scenes for him to have the success that he is having now.»

Raleigh, who also had a sacrifice fly in the fifth, already has an MLB-leading 71 RBIs, becoming the fastest Mariners player to hit that total since Bret Boone also did it in 84 games in 2003.

The switch-hitter leads the American League in slugging percentage from both the right side of the plate (.763) and the left side (.600) this season. On the last day of June, Raleigh's shot gave him the third-most home runs before August by any switch-hitter in MLB history; Mickey Mantle had 39 homers before August in 1961 and 34 before August in 1956.

Mariners slugger Cal Raleigh hit his 33rd home run on Monday (June 30th) to tie Ken Griffey Jr. and Sammy Sosa for the third-most before July 1 in MLB history.

«It's got to feel good for him, and especially after not [being] pitched to much in Texas, but being able to