Why hit just one home run in a game? Some major leaguers have doubled up
Hitting one home run in a game? For some major leaguers this season, that’s just not enough.
Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner got the party started with his two-homer game on Opening Day.
Two homers. A total of 838 feet.
— #Statcast (@statcast) April 3, 2017
Madison Bumgarner brought his hitting shoes today. https://t.co/xtjAk5IQAp #Statcast pic.twitter.com/GqSgfP6dF2
Since then, 13 others have matched the feat – and the season is only nine days old as of Monday. Among those to hit two out are A’s outfielder Khris Davis and Giants first baseman Brandon Belt, who was matched by San Diego’s Manuel Margot in that game.
There’s only been one day this year when nobody hit two out. That was on April 4, when 17 players went yard, all of them just once. Slackers.
Here are a few quick notes:
▪ Bumgarner became the first pitcher in Major League Baseball history to hit two home runs on Opening Day.
▪ Three teams have two players to accomplish the feat (Giants, Braves, Dodgers).
▪ Four players went yard twice on April 6.
▪ For the 14 players who’ve hit two homers in a game, eight have done it in a win.
▪ No third baseman has accomplished the feat. This includes power hitters such as the Rockies’ Nolan Arenado, the Blue Jays’ Josh Donaldson and the Rays’ Evan Longoria.
Here’s a breakdown of this season’s double-dinger days:
Date | Player | Opponent | Result |
April 10 | OF Jay Bruce, Mets | at Phillies | W, 4-3 |
April 9 | 1B Freddie Freeman, Braves | at Pirates | L, 6-5 (10) |
April 8 | SS Aledmys Diaz, Cardinals | vs. Reds | W, 10-4 |
April 7 | 1B Brandon Belt, Giants | at Padres | L, 7-6 |
April 7 | OF Manuel Margot, Padres | vs Giants | W, 7-6 |
April 6 | OF Matt Kemp, Braves | at Mets | L, 6-2 |
April 6 | OF Yasiel Puig, Dodgers | vs. Padres | W, 10-2 |
April 6 | OF Daniel Nava, Phillies | at Reds | L, 7-4 |
April 6 | C Geovany Soto, White Sox | vs. Tigers | W, 11-2 |
April 5 | SS Francisco Lindor, Indians | at Rangers | W, 9-6 |
April 3 | OF Khris Davis, A’s | vs. Angels | W, 4-2 |
April 3 | 2B Rougned Odor, Rangers | vs. Indians | L, 8-5 |
April 3 | C Yasmani Grandal, Dodgers | vs. Padres | W, 14-3 |
April 2 | P Madison Bumgarner, Giants | vs. Diamondbacks | L, 6-5 |
This story was originally published April 9, 2017 at 10:17 PM with the headline "Why hit just one home run in a game? Some major leaguers have doubled up."