Three-Homer Games
Early this year, Dodger outfielder, Trayce Thompson, started the season with a bang as he had a three-homer game. Unfortunately for Trayce, that was pretty much the highlight of his year, and he was traded prior to the deadline back to the White Sox. The first three-homer game…
Early this year, Dodger outfielder, Trayce Thompson, started the season with a bang as he had a three-homer game. Unfortunately for Trayce, that was pretty much the highlight of his year, and he was traded prior to the deadline back to the White Sox.
The first three-homer game by a Dodger came in 1926 when Jack Fournier against the Cardinals. He drove in 5 runs in a 12-10 Brooklyn loss and he hit all three off of the same pitcher. It would be 1948 before Brooklyn had another player accomplish the feat. Gene Hermanski hit 3 against the Cubs at Ebbett’s Field in a Dodger win.
In 1950, four Dodgers would have 3 homer games. Snider, Campanella, Hodges and Tommy Brown. Hodges actually hit four homers that day in 1950. Browns came in a loss against the Cubs. Campy hit his against the Reds and Snider against the Phillies during a doubleheader sweep.
Snider would do it again in 1955 and he was the last Brooklyn Dodger to accomplish the feat. So, over their long history in Brooklyn, they had 7 three-homer games from players. Johnny Mize had six in his career. Mookie also has six. Don Demeter was the first LA Dodger to do it on April 21st, 1959.
After Demeter, no Dodger connected for three in a game until 1974 when Jimmy Wynn and Davey Lopes had 3 homer games. Most of the big boppers of the day had multiple games like that Willie Stargell, Mays, McCovey, Banks, Mantle. But the Dodgers just never seemed to have those kinds of sluggers, and really had not had any since Brooklyn.
Dave Kingman would end up with 5 of those games. We all know how Tommy felt about Kingman’s 3 homer game against the Dodgers! One of the best of many of Tommy’s rants. 20 years passed before Dodger 1st baseman that day, Cory Snyder, hit 3 in April of 1994. It was a 19-2 shellacking of the Pirates. Snyder also drove in 7 runs.
Mike Piazza did it in 96, and the next time it happened was in April of 2000 when Kevin Elster did it. I had forgotten he even played for the Dodgers! Probably because he was in his final year in the majors, and he did little to help the Dodger cause.
The next two times it happened, 2001 and 2002, the same player did it. Shawn Green had a 3-homer game in 2001 and then in 2002 he one upped himself and hit 4 in Milwaukee. The second Dodger to do that. He Sop Choi had one in 2005 and Captain Clutch, Andre Ethier did it in 2009.
Adrian Gonzalez would have 2 games for the Dodgers with three homers, first came in 2015 and he second came in 2016 when Corey Seager and Yasmani Grandal also had three homer games. Gonzalez joined Green, and Snider as the only Dodgers doing it more than once. Seager joined that group in 2017 with his second. Next up was Yasiel Puig in 2018.
Justin Turner and AJ Pollock accomplished the feat in 2019. Then during the 2020 season, new Dodger, Mookie Betts blasted three against the Padres. That was the last time it happened until Trayce did it in April.
Post Season three-homer games are rare. It has happened only 12 times in MLB history. The last to do that was Chris Taylor against the Braves in the 2021 NLCS. Babe Ruth is the only player to do it more than once. We all know about Reggie Jackson’s three-homer game. Came against LA in the 77 series. In 71, Bob Robertson of the Pirates hit three in the NLCS. He also added a double becoming so far the only player to have four extra-base hits in a postseason game.
Others accomplishing the feat, George Brett, Adrian Beltre, Albert Pujols, Adam Kennedy, who was batting 9th that game for the Angels, Pablo Sandoval, Jose Altuve and Kike Hernandez who hit three in the NLCS clinching game in 2017.
If Mookie can do it again, he will sit on top of the heap with 7. Mookie is tied with Johnny Mize and Sammy Sosa. It took Mize 1884 games, Sosa 2364, and Mookie did it in 813. The way Mookie’s power stroke has evolved he could very well do it again and soon. He has already had four two-homer games in 23.
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Discussion (82)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Forced to watch the Rockies broadcast again, as I will have to tomorrow. But I turn the sound off. When I saw the camera focused on the numbers that are retired, I turned the sound back on and Goodman, by far the worst announcer in the league, recanted his statement from last night’s game about Valenzuela being the only non hall of famer honored with retiring his number and he mentioned Gilliam, finally. But then the idiot compounded his gaff from yesterday when he added Gil Hodges to that list. He said Hodges was finally named to the Hall last year, but what he failed to mention was that the Dodgers did not officially announce that Gils number would be retired until after he was elected to the Hall. Otherwise, # 14 might still be issued to someone. What an idiot. I sent him another Tweet on Twitter telling him how wrong he is.
8.5 games ahead. Pretty good for a team that didn’t stand a chance to make even a wildcard in. My Dodgers just keep looking better all the time/ And they are mine, always have been. No crow for me. I’ll just enjoy my gloat float.
Yep. James Outman made the team and stuck as a starter, just as I predicted.
My prediction in the offseason of .245-.255 BA and .830-.840 OPS might become a reality. He’s already there with the BA. I thought he’d get more doubles than he has and turn some of them into triples because of his speed.
I love watching him.
I hope you’re doing good nonicnamebumfan.
Thanks for the message to me.
Close don’t count: Laz Diaz
Open on www.tiktok.comhttps://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8NkQTP2/Phillips sure look good tonight, though
How about that Jimmy O eh Eric
Brasier looking better and better. He throws strikes and looks super confident on the mound.
Graterol has been solid lately also
Phillips has been a little sketchy
Amed’s homer off a RIGHTY, ..hmm?
Dodgers game finally streaming on MLB.TV
The game is back on MLB.tv
Gonsolin – 6 IP/3H 1 ER/0 BB/6 Ks
How do you like me now?
Gonsolin thru 3 given up 1 run.
Dodgers 3
Rockies 1
Dodgers up to bat bottom of 3
MLB.TV not broadcasting the game. Could someone tell me who is covering the game tonight?
History is full of cases where the best team did not win… the best Army did not win.
You are confused about what makes a team the best.
There is a difference between the BEST team and a CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM!
I never said it was easy. All I’m saying is can’t be considered the best without the ring. Otherwise would come down to opinions and stats and that’s not good enough. If they come out flat or can’t beat a hot team who’s fault is that and don’t deserve a ring in the first place
Rings mark. That’s all that counts. They don’t give rings for having the best team with stats on paper or winning the division for ten years. They only give them for winning it all and that’s the best team. Please I don’t want hear anymore about that baloney for losers crapshoot theory and I sure wouldn’t want anyone on my team that thinks the way you do. Of course there’s a little luck involved but mainly it comes down to the best total team talent making the plays when it counts deserving the ring which makes them the best. And I’m telling ya it be a total waste of your time trying to convince me otherwise
9:10 PM ET
Rockies (45-71)
Dodgers (69-46)
SP Peter Lambert R
2-3 5.57 ERA
SP Tony Gonsolin R
7-4 4.42 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
DH Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
LF D. Peralta L
RF J. Heyward L
CF James Outman L
SS Amed Rosario R
C A. Barnes R
78° Wind 8 mph Out
How about that wild error by Profar. I don’t understand that rule. It should be a discretionary call by the official scorer. That cost Freddy, an at bat. If Profar would’ve caught the ball, Freddy would’ve been awarded a sac fly. Not very likely, but it cost percentage points in determining the batting champion
I didn’t want to bring it up, blunderful you’re spot on! Kike is butchering it up in the infield. He’s trying to make Arenado plays! I agree, outfield only. 3 games, giving up 5 runs. 9 ks last night! Couldn’t ask for a better number 4 or 5 starter! Think Yarbrough will be invaluable in the playoffs. All bow to King Friedman!
Kike at SS/3B = costly errors that will burn us in the end.
His arm /head is messed up. Outfield only here on in.
Watching the butchers Max & Kike together is total suck.
I did not realize until I read the story in MLBTR that the Brewers will consider relocating if there is not some sort of solution by this winter about improvements to their ballpark and its lease. Seems the Republican controlled legislature killed a deal they had in place that would have netted 450 mil for improvements. Portland and Nashville mentioned as possible landing spots. Won’t happen right away. They are of course not the only franchise with problems. Tampa Bay is still trying to get a new stadium closer to the city itself. Oakland’s fate will probably be settled when the next owners meeting happens this fall. The move to Vegas seems more likely than ever. I also did not realize that the Orioles are having problems with their lease also. Unlike the Brewers, whose lease runs until 2030, the Orioles lease expires at the end of this year. Manfred visited Milwaukee and made reference to the A’s situation and told the city fathers that Oaklands leadership could never agree and now are in serious danger of losing the franchise. He urged them to find a way to get a deal in place that would satisfy both parties. MLB wants to expand to 32 teams so both leagues would be balanced, but no expansion will be considered until Tampa and Oakland’s situations are resolved.
Like the Toby Keith song, Lynn is singing ” How Do You Like Me Now? ” .
Looks like I am going to be a great grandpa again. Found that out this morning. I have to go to a funeral today. Service is in Florence, next town over, at 1PM. Del was a great guy, fun to be around and a very good bass player.
Busch should be minor league player of the year for the org. Pitcher is a closer call.
Good post today, Bear, as always
I need a part time job being Joe Davis’ fact checker. He had a couple last night.
Joe mentioned some need to come up with a song and lyrics for the Dodgers doing the Freddie. He’s too young to know that the original Freddie dance and song was done by a dorky looking British group, Freddie and the Dreamers in the early 60’s. The original dance looks nothing like Freddie Freeman’s version. The original looks like modified side-straddle-hops.
Next, after seeing Mookie return to first base backpedaling on Freeman’s fly to left, Joe said it reminded him of the story of Jimmy Piersoll running the bases backwards. My recollection of Piersoll wasn’t running backwards ie. backpedaling, Jimmy actually ran the bases backwards on a home; third to second to first. He needs an OLD fact-checker. Not calling you old, Bear but what’s your recollection on Piersoll, aside from being nuts.
Speaking of that play with Mookie stealing the first pitch as Freddie lined the ball to left. 2 details come to mind. Mookie must have been running on his own. Otherwise, Freddie would be taking the pitch on a straight steal. I did’t see it as a hit & run play. And if Mookie was going on his own, he and Freddie need some king of signal between the two so Freddie takes. Mookie had a great jump and had the bag. I love the attempt early but take the pitch and let Mookie get to second.
I said the same thing yesterday that Joe said last night. Freeman has had a big influence on other Dodgers cutting down swings and making contact. Less big swings from most of the lineup.
Damn, how do we manage to get Adrian Johnson, Manny Gonzales and Laz Diaz behind the dish in 3 of our last 4 games?
There have been some comments lately about the Dodgers needing a fire breathing influence on the team, like Kirk Gibson. It’s interesting what motivates players. Guys like Ted Williams and Pete Rose seemed to play pissed-off. It motivated them. Mookie and Freddie are no motivated by anger. On the ill-fated double steal last night, Mookie got caught in the rundown and was tagged out. He hugged the catcher who tagged him. Back in the day, Rose would have run over the catcher and tried to knock the ball loose. Not wrong, just different.
Great job again, Lance Lynn. Did what he does best. I love guys who love their fastball and the Dodger tweaks have seemed to help. What a great pick-up by AF. Who needs Verlander and Scherzer? I he another inning left in him but Doc chose to pull the plug.
We are on a roll.