BREAKING NEWS: Raleigh to homers twice to spoil Sammy Sosa’s homecoming in Mariners’ 9-4 win over the Cubs

On a night that was meant to celebrate the long-awaited return of Cubs legend Sammy Sosa to Wrigley Field, it was Cal Raleigh who stole the spotlight. The Mariners catcher launched two towering home runs, driving in five runs to lead Seattle to a commanding 9-4 win over the Chicago Cubs on Friday night.

The game was billed as a tribute to Sosa, who made a rare appearance at Wrigley for the first time since his controversial departure from the club in 2004. Fans packed the stadium early, waving Dominican flags and donning vintage Cubs jerseys emblazoned with No. 21. But while the pregame ceremony evoked nostalgia and emotion, it was Raleigh’s bat that commanded the night’s loudest reactions.

Raleigh wasted no time making his presence felt, launching a three-run homer to deep center field in the third inning off Cubs starter Justin Steele. He struck again in the seventh, this time pulling a two-run blast into the right-field bleachers to extend Seattle’s lead to 8-3.

“Honestly, I didn’t even realize it was Sosa night until I saw the video tribute,” Raleigh said with a grin postgame. “He’s a legend, no doubt. But once the game starts, you lock in. It’s about helping your team win.”

Seattle’s offense was relentless, collecting 13 hits on the night. Julio Rodríguez added three hits and scored twice, while J.P. Crawford chipped in with a pair of RBIs. The win snapped a three-game skid for the Mariners and offered a much-needed boost as they continue to chase a playoff spot in the competitive AL West.

Despite the loss, the evening held emotional significance for Chicago fans. Sosa, now 56, received a prolonged standing ovation as he walked onto the field during a pregame tribute video. Flanked by family members and former teammates, he waved to the crowd and acknowledged chants of “Sam-my! Sam-my!”

“It feels like coming home,” Sosa said in a brief on-field interview. “This city gave me everything. I’ll always be grateful.”

The Cubs’ offense showed some life with a solo homer from Ian Happ and a two-run double by Seiya Suzuki, but Steele struggled to find rhythm, surrendering six runs over 4.1 innings.

As for Raleigh, his performance marked his fourth multi-homer game of the season and reinforced his status as one of the league’s most dangerous power-hitting catchers.

“Cal’s been huge for us,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “He’s got a knack for the big moment, and tonight, he delivered on a big stage.”

While the night began as a celebration of the past, it ended as a reminder of baseball’s ever-changing narrative — where new heroes can emerge even amid the roar for legends.

Box Score:

Seattle Mariners – 9

Chicago Cubs – 4

Notables:

Cal Raleigh: 2 HR, 5 RBI

Julio Rodríguez: 3-for-5, 2 R

Justin Steele: 4.1 IP, 9 H, 6 ER

The Mariners and Cubs continue their weekend series on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 2:20 p.m. ET.