Cal Raleigh breaks Mickey Mantle's record on a two-homer night

(AFP) American Cal Raleigh hit two more home runs in Tuesday's win for the Seattle Mariners and reached new marks in his outstanding Major League Baseball season.

The catcher, the year's leading scorer in the majors, hit his first home run in the third inning of a 12-5 win over the Kansas City Royals.

Raleigh thus reached 55 home runs on the year and surpassed Mickey Mantle to set a new record for a switch hitter.

The American had equaled a day earlier the 54 homers that the legendary Mantle hit for the New York Yankees in 1961.

This mark did not satisfy Raleigh, who, upon his return in the fourth inning, hit another missile that overflowed the wall of Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium.

With his 56th home run, Raleigh tied the Mariners' franchise record, set by Ken Griffey Jr. in the 1997 and 1998 seasons.

Raleigh still has 11 regular-season games to surpass Griffey Jr.

The catcher will also try to catch up to Aaron Judge, the Yankees' current star, who in 2022 set the all-time American League home run record with 62.

Raleigh's display inspired his Seattle teammates and fellow American Dominic Canzone went a step further and hit three home runs and five hits against the Royals.

Dominican Julio Rodríguez joined the barrage with two hits and two RBIs for the Mariners, who are sowing playoff fear with a streak of 10 straight wins.

In other duels Tuesday, the New York Mets picked up a valuable win for their postseason aspirations.

The Mets beat the San Diego Padres 8-3 with homers by Pete Alonso and Puerto Rican Francisco Lindor.

Dominican star Juan Soto was held to one hit in his four at-bats, while compatriot Fernando Tatís Jr. went hitless for the Padres.

The New York Yankees woke up after Monday's 7-0 thrashing and this time overcame the Minnesota Twins by a tight 10-9 score.

The visitors scored all 10 runs in the first four innings. Judge contributed a hit, an RBI and two walks.

In Detroit, the Guardians beat the Tigers 7-5 with two runs batted in by Venezuelan Gabriel Arias. His compatriot Gleyber Torres hit a solo home run for Detroit.