Cal Raleigh provides the spark that was needed in comeback win against White Sox

Through seven innings the Seattle Mariners offense looked pathetic, once again. They mustered just four hits through the first seven frames as they made the Chicago White Sox starter Erick Fedde look dominant. Things looked bad for the offense as they were staring a loss to the league's worst team, by record, in the face down 4-0. Then, things took a turn.

To finally get Fedde out of the game for Chicago, Dominic Canzone broke the scoring drought for Seattle with a solo home run to right field to lead off the bottom of the 8th inning. The next three hitters for the Mariners would load the bases before Mitch Haniger came through with a two run, two out single to right field to bring the M's within one. Then, Luke Raley surprised everyone by dropping down a bunt to drive in the tying run.

This 8th inning was great to see from the offense because they had been dormant for the past 7 innings. Then in the bottom of the ninth, the top of the lineup loaded the bases for Cal Raleigh so that he could unload on a center cut fastball and walk the game off with a grand slam to right field.

The thought during the game was that this team needed a spark. This spark could be anything to get this team playing better baseball and more importantly, more consistent baseball. The club is in first place in the American League West but it does not feel safe. That spark could be a big-time trade, such as going after the White Sox star outfielder Luis Robert, but maybe the spark this team needed came from their backstop.

Cal Raleigh provided the spark that was needed for the Mariners' offense

In the bottom of the 8th inning, Raleigh was called out on strikes on a pitch that was just in off the plate and he did not like it. He was letting the home plate umpire know his frustration with the call before Mariners Manager Scott Servais stepped in to give the umpire the business and get thrown out to protect his player. Servais did the right thing and stayed out there to yell at the umpire longer than Raleigh before heading back to the dugout early.

This may have fired up the team because they saw their manager go out and fight for them. This was right before Haniger's single and Raley's bunt, but the next time Raleigh came to the plate after nearly getting ejected, he sent the ball to the bleachers in right field. After Servais was ejected, six of the next eight Mariners hitters reached base and then Raleigh hit the game-winner.

The Mariners should not struggle so badly for seven innings against the White Sox, but hopefully, the last two innings woke the offense up. It would be great for the offense to stay hot at the plate through the rest of this series against the White Sox and into a showdown with the Texas Rangers, a stretch where the Mariners can pad their division lead if they play well.