Josh Hamilton entered Tuesday's play as the American League home run leader with 10. Against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards on Tuesday, though, the Texas Rangers outfielder went absolutely nuts, hitting four home runs in his first five at-bats. The other at-bat was a measly double, and we shan't talk of it again.
Hamilton's first home run came in the first inning, a two-run shot off Jake Arrieta that scored Elvis Andrus. His second came in the third inning, another two-run homer off Arrieta that also scored Andrus. After doubling in the fifth, Hamilton hit his third homer in the seventh off reliever Zach Phillips, a two-run dinger that scored Andrus. His fourth, record-tying homer came in the eighth off sidearmer Darren O'Day. Andrus was on base again, scoring on a Hamilton homer for the fourth time in the game.
The Orioles do not have the lead as of this writing.
Hamilton set the AL record for total bases with 18; two National Leaguers, Joe Adcock and Shawn Green, hold the MLB record with 19. Hamilton becomes the 16th player to accomplish the feat, and the first since Carlos Delgado in 2003.
A list of four-homer games, not including Bobby Lowe (1894) or Ed Delhanty (1896).
Player | Date | PA | HR | RBI |
---|---|---|---|---|
Carlos Delgado | 2003-09-25 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
Shawn Green | 2002-05-23 | 6 | 4 | 7 |
Mike Cameron | 2002-05-02 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
Mark Whiten | 1993-09-07 (2) | 5 | 4 | 12 |
Bob Horner | 1986-07-06 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
Mike Schmidt | 1976-04-17 | 6 | 4 | 8 |
Willie Mays | 1961-04-30 | 5 | 4 | 8 |
Rocky Colavito | 1959-06-10 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
Joe Adcock | 1954-07-31 | 5 | 4 | 7 |
Gil Hodges | 1950-08-31 | 6 | 4 | 9 |
Pat Seerey | 1948-07-18 (1) | 7 | 4 | 7 |
Chuck Klein | 1936-07-10 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
Lou Gehrig | 1932-06-03 | 6 | 4 | 6 |