SEATTLE – The first game of the Dan Wilson era began Friday with the Seattle Mariners overcoming a deficit to beat the San Francisco Giants.

The Mariners fought back from a four-run deficit to beat the Giants 6-5 on a walk-off single by Leo Rivas in the bottom of the tenth inning.

Seattle had many heroes on Friday, and one of them earned a place among baseball’s best hitters with a series of outstanding performances.

Mariners first baseman/outfielder Luke Raley hit a solo home run to put his team on the scoreboard on Friday and hit the game-winning RBI single in the eighth inning that ultimately sent the game into overtime. Raley went 2-for-3 with two RBIs on Friday and reached base four times.

Raley had a brilliant August after struggling in July.

Raley has a batting average of .302 with five home runs and 12 RBIs this month. His on-base percentage is .446. Raley had a batting average of .129 with two home runs and six RBIs in July.

According to Mariners PR, Raley’s OPS of 1.121 in August is the third-best in the league behind Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees and Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros.

Raley has a batting average of .238 with 16 home runs and 41 RBIs this season.

Raley was used primarily as a platoon player this season and, like most of Seattle’s lineup, struggled at various points throughout the year.

But with the Mariners 4.5 games behind the Astros for first place in the American League West, it seems like Raley is hitting his stride at just the right time.

MARINERS INTRODUCE WILSON AS MANAGER: Former Seattle Mariners catcher, team Hall of Fame member and new team manager Dan Wilson spoke to the media before Friday’s game against the San Francisco Giants. CLICK HERE

ROBLES BACK IN THE LINEUP FOR THE MARINERS: Victor Robles will play right field for the Seattle Mariners after admirably filling in for Julio Rodriguez in center field last month. CLICK HERE

WILSON PRAISES MARTINEZ: The Seattle Mariners have hired MLB Hall of Fame member Edgar Martinez as hitting coach for new manager Dan Wilson’s staff. CLICK HERE

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