THE SEATTLE MARINERS ARE THE AL WEST CHAMPS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2001
The Mariners defeated the Colorado Rockies last night, 9-2, winning the AL West and putting an end to Houston’s run of seven consecutive full-season division titles. The Mariners won for the 16th time in their last 17 games. A win today would clinch a first-round bye and home-field advantage in a division series. Seattle has won 22 of its last 25 games at T-Mobile Park, and their last 10 straight.
At 89-69, Seattle stands just one game behind the Blue Jays and the Yankees in the race for the AL’s best record. Toronto and New York own the tiebreakers. The M’s hold the tiebreaker over the Guardians.
Nine to Know from the 2001 baseball season:
Ichiro Suzuki Wins MVP and Rookie of the Year: Ichiro became the first player since Fred Lynn (1975) to win both AL MVP and AL Rookie of the Year in the same season.
The NL Rookie of the Year was Albert Pujols of the Cardinals.
Pittsburgh’s PNC Park and Milwaukee’s Miller Park opened.
The NL Cy Young Award winner was Randy Johnson of the Diamondbacks.
The AL Cy Young Award went to the Yankees’ Roger Clemens.
In other PED-related news, Barry Bonds smashed Mark McGwire’s single-season home run record by hitting 73.
Rickey Henderson broke the all-time runs scored record and notched his 3000th hit during the season.
In one of the greatest World Series, four games were decided in the final at-bat, and Arizona took the title over the Yankees in a Game 7 walkoff.
The Mariners tied the MLB record for most regular-season wins at 116, matching the 1906 Chicago Cubs. They won the division title and wouldn’t win again until 2025.
CAL RALEIGH HAS 60 HOMERS
Of course, the key to the Mariners' victory last night was Cal Raleigh, who hit homers number 59 and 60. Raleigh tied the MLB record with his 11th multi-home run game of the season.
“I don’t know what to say, I’m just so happy. I love this team. I love this city. I love my parents. Thank you for being here. I’m just so happy for our guys. We’re gonna celebrate tonight, and like I said, we’re not done yet.” - Cal Raleigh in his postgame interview.
Raleigh has four games remaining to hit two homers and tie Judge’s 2022 AL 62-homer season record—and three to break it.
AARON JUDGE HITS NUMBERS 50 & 51
Aaron Judge became the fourth player to have four 50+ home run seasons, as the Yankees beat up the White Sox, 8-1. Max Fried finished this season with a record of
