Wilyer Abreu led off the bottom of the fifth with an inside-the-park home run. Three innings later, he donged the first grand slam of his career. The Red Sox rode a seven-run first inning to a 13-6 victory.
Abreu became only the sixth player to hit an inside-the-park home run and a grand slam in a game -- and the first player to do it in 67 years. The others:
June 5, 1890 - Jocko Fields, Pittsburgh Burghers (Players League)
July 4, 1923 (G1) - Everett Scott, Yankees
August 4, 1930 - Charlie Gehringer, Tigers
July 4, 1939 (G2) - Jim Tabor, Red Sox*
August 3, 1958 (G1) - Roger Maris, KC Athletics
*: Back on Independence Day in 1939, the Red Sox pounded out 35 hits and 35 runs, battering the hapless Philadelphia Athletics 17-7 and 18-12. Tabor had a great week that afternoon: 6-for-9, double, four home runs (two grand slams), seven runs scored, 11 RBI, and a walk. The 19 total bases boosted his slugging from .419 to .483!
Ian Browne reports: "It was the first inside-the-parker for a Red Sox player since Eduardo Núnéz in Alex Cora's first game as Boston's manager on March 29, 2018 (JoS), at Tropicana Field against the Rays. It was also the first inside-the-park homer for a Boston player at Fenway since Jacoby Ellsbury on Sept. 19, 2011 (JoS), vs. the Orioles."
Abreu is also the first Red Sox player with an inside-the-park and over-the-fence home run in the same game since Pokey Reese (May 8, 2004). [Hey, lady!!! I was at that game!]
Asked which home run was more satisfying, Abreu said, "Obviously the inside-the-parker, but you get tired from it. So for me if you hit the ball and just jog around the bases [for a homer], that's better."
Has there ever been an inside-the-park Grand Slam?
ReplyDeleteI was also at that Pokey Reese game. I believe he hit the inside-the-park one first, and when he came up for his next at-bat, I joked to my wife: "Bet that was the only home run he hits this season." Then he proceeded to launch one, I believe, into the Monster Seats. ;-)
ReplyDeleteHas there ever been an inside-the-park Grand Slam?
ReplyDeleteThere have been 209 ITPGS from 1876-2019.
Roberto Clemente hit a WALKOFF ITPGS on July 25, 1956. Pirates beat the Cubs 9-8.
Dodgers hit 2 ITPGS in the same game! September 23, 1901, Dodgers 25, Reds 6. (Only 1 zero in the traditional AB-R-H-RBI box score!)
Pirates hit ITPGS in consecutive games: July 21 (G2) and 22, 1910. Pitcher Deacon Phillippe hit the second one.
Babe Ruth was on first base three times for ITPGS: May 14, 1923, May 18, 1926, July 5, 1934.
I should out my scorecard for that Pokey game . . .