Chris Davis in the “Club of Clubbers” 30 or more homers at the break.

In 2012, the Orioles’ Chris Davis, at age 26, had a career year – finishing with a .270 average and a career-high 33 home runs and 85 RBI.  In 2013, the 6’ 3”, 230-pound first baseman is hitting .324 and has already matched his 33 round trippers and 85 RBI of the 2012 season – with a week of games to go before the All Star break.  Here’s some background on the “30-HR before the break” club and Davis’ targets for the coming week.

First, only six players have hit more than 33 homers before the break – led by Barry Bonds 39 in 2007, when he finished with all-time MLB high of 73 dingers for the Giants.

Reggie Jackson and Mark McGwire are next with 37 pre-All Star Game homers.  Jackson for the A’s in 1969 (he finished with 47) and McGwire for the Cardinals in 1998 (finishing with 70).  Ken Griffey, Jr. of the Mariners had 35 at the break in 1998 (finishing with 56), as did Louis Gonzalez of the Diamondbacks in 2001 (ending the season with 57 homers).  Frank Howard of Senators reached 34 homers by the 1969 All Star break (finishing with 48).  We can expect Davis to move up this list over the coming week, although Bonds’ 39 seems out of reach.

Overall, 30 or more home runs before the All Star break has been achieved 34 times, by 26 different players, in MLB history (including Davis this year.)  Mark McGwire has done it most often – in 1987, 1997, 1998, and 2000.  The only others to reach the thirty mark at break time more than once are Ken Griffey, Jr. (three times); and Willie Stargell, Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds (twice each).   Perhaps, the most surprising member of this “club of clubbers” is the Orioles’ Brady Anderson – who had 30 HRs at the break in 1996, on his way to a 50-homer season.  In his 15-year career, Anderson totaled 210 homers and his second-highest season total was 24.

McGwire is the only player to reach the 30 homer-mark before the break in both leagues (as well as for more than one team).  He achieved the feat with the A’s in in 1987 and 1997 and the Cardinals in 1998 and 2000.  McGwire holds some other distinctions among members of this club. He is the only player to be traded during a season in which he reached the 30-homer level by the break.  In 1997, McGwire had 33 homers at the All Star break and hit one more for the A’s before they traded him (July 31) to the Cardinals (where he went on to hit 24 more home runs).  McGwire is also the only rookie to reach 30 homers by the All Star break, with 33 in 1987, when the 23-year-old A’s rookie hit 49 and captured Rookie of the Year honors.

By decade, the 1950’s saw 30 homers reached before the break once; the 1960’s – five times; the 1970’s – four times; the 1980’s – three times; the 1990’s – 12 times; 2000-2009 – seven times; 2010-13 – twice.  1998 was the single most prolific year for “thirty-before-the break,” with the Cardinals’ McGwire going into the break with 37 HRs, the Mariners’ Griffey, Jr. at 35; the Cubs’ Sammy Sosa at 30; and the Padres Greg Vaughn at 30.

Here’s the full list of players with 30 or more homers at the break, with season-ending total in parenthesis.

39 HRs … Barry Bonds, Giants, 2001 (73)

37 … Reggie Jackson, A’s, 1969 (47)

37 … Mark McGwire, Cardinals, 1998 (70)

35 … Luis Gonzalez, Diamond backs, 2001 (57)

35 … Ken Griffey Jr., Mariners, 1998 (56)

34 … Frank Howard,   Senators, 1969 (48)

33 and counting, Chris Davis, Orioles, 2013

33 … Roger Maris, Yankees, 1961 (61)

33 … Sammy Sosa, Cubs, 1998 (66)

33 … Ken Griffey Jr., Mariners, 1994 (40)

33 … Matt Williams, Giants, 1994 (43)

33 … Mark McGwire, A’s, 1987 (49)

32 … Albert Pujols, Cardinals, 2009 (47)

32 … Sammy Sosa, Cubs, 1999 (63)

32 … Frank Thomas, White Sox, 1994 (38)

31 … Jose Bautista, Blue Jays, 2011 (43)

31 … David Ortiz, Red Sox, 2006 (54)

31… Jose Canseco, Devil Rays, 1999 (34)

31 … Mark McGwire, A’s & Cardinals, 1997 (58)

31 … Kevin Mitchell, Giants, 1989 (47)

31 … Mike Schmidt, Phillies, 1979 (45)

31 … Willie Mays, Giants, 1954 (41)

30 … Alex Rodriguez   , Yankees, 2007 (54)

30 … Jim Thome, White Sox, 2006 (42)

30 … Barry Bonds, Giants, 2003 (45)

30 … Mark McGwire, Cardinals, 2000 (32)

30 … Greg Vaughn, Padres, 1998 (50)

30 … Ken Griffey Jr., Mariners, 1997 (56)

30 … Brady Anderson, Orioles, 1996 (50)

30 … Dave Kingman, Mets, 1976 (37)

30 … Willie Stargell, Pirates     30, 1973 (44)

30 … Willie Stargell, Pirates, 1971 (48)

30 … Willie McCovey, Giants, 1969 (45)

30 … Harmon Killebrew, Twins, 1964 (49)

Homer Bailey – who threw 2012’s last no hitter – throws 2013’s first.

Reds’ right-hander Homer Bailey (“Homer” – unfortunate name for a pitcher) threw MLB’s first no-hitter Tuesday (July 2) night, as well as the last no-hitter of the 2012 season (September 28, 2012).  Pitching in Cincinnati’s  very hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark, Bailey shutdown the Giants 3-0 on 109 pitchers, walking just one, striking out nine. (Bailey took a perfect game into to the seventh.)  It was MLB’s 280^th recognized no-hitter, and Bailey became just the 31^st pitcher to throw multiple no-hitters.  A list of those hurlers follows, but first a few no-hitter factoids.

Consecutive no-hitters:  Two – by Johnny Vander Meer of the Reds, as he shut down the Boston Braves 3-0 on June 11, 1938 and the Brooklyn Dodgers 6-0 on June 15, 1938.

Two no-hitters in one season:  Johnny Vander Meer, Reds, 1938; Allie Reynolds, Yankees, 1951; Virgil Trucks, Tigers, 1952; Nolan Ryan, Angels, 1973; Roy Halladay, Phillies, 2010 (one in post-season).

Pitchers who have thrown a no-hitter in both the AL and NL:  Cy Young (Cleveland Spiders/NL and Boston Americans and Red Sox/AL);  Jim Bunning (Detroit Tigers/Philadelphia Phillies); Hideo Nomo (LA Dodgers/Boston Red Sox); Randy Johnson (Seattle Mariners/Arizona Diamondbacks); Nolan Ryan (Houston Astros/California Angels/Texas Rangers).

Opening Day no-hitters:  On April 16, 1940, the Indians’ Bob Feller threw the only Opening Day no-hitter, topping the White Sox 1-0 at Comiskey.

World Series no-hitter: Yankee Don Larsen’s October 8, 1956, perfect game against the Dodgers in game six of the ’56 Series is the only World Series no-hitter.  Roy Halladay threw the only other post season no-hitter to date, as he topped the Reds in game one of the 2010 NL Division Series (October 6, 2010).

Most pitchers used in a combined no-hitter:  Six.  On June 11, 2003,  Roy Oswalt started for the Astros against the Yankees, but aggravated a groin injury in the second inning (having not given up a hit).  Oswalt was followed to the mound by Pete Munro, Kirk Sarloos, Brad Lidge, Octoavio Dotel and Billy Wagner – and the six hurlers combined to no-hit the “Bombers” 8-0.

Pitchers who hit homers while pitching a no-hitter:  On June 23, 1971 Rick Wise of the Phillies went two-for-four, with two homers and three RBI, while no-hitting the Reds 4-0 in Cincinnati.  Wise is the only hurler to go deep twice while tossing a no-hit game.  And this was no easy no-no.  It was against the “Big Red Machine,” with a lineup featuring such hitters as Pete Rose, George Foster, Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, Lee May. Other pitchers to homer (once) in the midst of a no-hit game are the Indians’  Wes Ferrell, in a April 29, 1931, 9-0 no-hit win over the Saint Louis Browns and the Tigers’ Earl Wilson, in a June 26, 1962, no-hitter victory over the Angels.

Most walks in a no-hitter:  Eleven by Blue Moon Odom and Francisco Barrios, as the White Sox topped the A’s (Odom was with the White Sox by then) 2-1 on July 28, 1976.  Odom lasted just five innings.  He was relieved – holding a 2-1 lead – after walking the lead-off hitter in the bottom of the sixth (and going 1-0 on the next batter).  Francisco Barrios came on and finished the game, allowing no hits, but walking two more in four innings of work.

Most walks in a no-hitter by one pitcher: Ten by Steve Barber in a combined no hitter.  Barber took a no-hitter, albeit with seven walks, and a 1-0 lead into the top of the ninth as his Orioles played the Tigers in Detroit on April 30, 1967.  Barber walked the first two batters in the final inning. Then a sacrifice move them to second and third.  A wild pitch followed, plating the tying run.  Barber walked the next hitter, and was relieved by Stu Miller.  Miller finished up the no-hitter, but the go ahead run scored on an error, giving the Tigers a 2-1 win without the benefit of a hit.   The Reds’ Jim Maloney also walked ten (and struck out twelve)  in no-hitting the Cubs 3-0 in ten innings on August 19, 1965.

Most walks in a nine-inning “solo” no hitter by one pitcher:  Nine by A.J. Burnett as his Marlins topped the Cubs 3-0 on May 12, 2001.  Burnett also hit one batter and threw one wild pitch.

Most no-hitters thrown under the influence of LSD:  One by Dock Ellis, see post of June 12, 2013.

Now here’s your multiple no-hitter list:

Seven no-hitters:   Nolan Ryan

Four:  Sandy Koufax

Three:  Larry Corcoran, Bob Feller, Cy Young

Two:  Homer Bailey, Mark Buehrle, Jim Bunning, Carl Erskine, Bob Forsch, Pud Galvin, Roy Halladay, Ken Holtzman, Randy Johnson, Addie Joss, Dutch Leonard, Jim Maloney, Christy Mathewson, Hideo Noma, Alllie Reynolds, Frank Smith, Warren Spahn, Bill Stoneman, Virgil Trucks, Johnny Vander Meer,  Justin Verlander, Ed Walsh, Don Wilson

For more on no-hitters, see BBRT 2012 posts of  Sept. 29, August 16, July 15 and June 9. 

Another month of the MLB season in the books and it’s time for BBRT to again look at a few of 2013’s surprises and disappointments.  In past end-of-the-month posts, I’ve covered such surprises as Brewers’ shortstop Juan Segura (still hitting .326 as June closed), Matt Harvey’s great start (and he closed June at 7-1 with a NL-low 2.00 ERA); Clay Bucholz’ sub-2.00 ERA for Boston; Carlos Gomez’ new found offense with Milwaukee and the performance of the Pirates, Red Sox and A’s.   We’ve also looked at a few disappointments like R.A. Dickey, Josh Hamilton, David Price and the Blue Jays, Angels, Dodgers and Nationals.  In this post, I’ll try not to repeat those past observations and shed some light on a few new surprises that have emerged.

Yasil Puig – surprisingly good!

The number one surprise on most lists is the Dodgers 22-year-old Cuban outfielder Yasiel Puig.  No one is surprised that he’s been good since his June 3 call up, but what is surprising is just how good.  Puig has put up some impressive numbers including a .436 average in his first MLB month (26 games).  But should we be that surprised?  This is the player who, in 2012, hit .400 in nine games in the Rookie league, .327 in 14 games at High A, then hit .526 in Spring Training, followed by a .313 average with eight homers and 26 RBI at Double A before his call-up.

There’s been a lot of talk about Puig’s 44 hits (in his first MLB month) being second only to Joe DiMaggio’s 48 hits as a rookie in May of 1936.  Here’s an in-depth comparison of the first month of action for Yasil and Joe.

Size:  Puig – 6’3”, 245 lbs.; DiMaggio – 6’2”, 193 lbs.

Age:  Puig – 22: DiMaggio – 21

Games Played:  Both – 26

At bats:  Puig – 101; DiMaggio – 126

Hits: Puig – 44; DiMaggio – 48

Averagre:  Puig – 436; DiMaggio -.381

Runs: Puig – 19; DiMaggio – 30

RBI: Puig – 16; DiMaggio – 28

Doubles: Puig – 5; DiMaggio – 15

Triples: Puig – 1; DiMaggio – 4

Home Runs:  Puig – 7; DiMaggio 4.

Two surprising stat lines for a first month’s work in the majors.

The two teams with the best won-loss records for the month of June are a bit of a surprise, the Pirates and the Blue Jays both ran up 17-9 records for the month.  However, that leaves the disappointing Blue Jays still in last place in the AL East (after a dismal start), while the surprising Pirates ended June leading the NL Central and with the most wins (51) of any MLB team.  It looks like they might surprise us with their first winning season in 21 years. Go Buccos!

The NL West standings are a surprise, with Arizona leading the pack, followed by Colorado, San Diego, San Francisco and Los Angeles.  Most projections saw a near reversal of that order – but as the month closed only 4 games separated the five NL West teams, so we can expect some change.

On the morning of July 1, the very “streaky” Cleveland Indians gave their fans a surprise – sitting atop the NL Central (tied with the Tigers).  Later that day, a Detroit loss put the Indians in sole possession of the Division lead.  How the Indians will fare in the second half remains to be seen, but their surprising success thus far helps identify the Tigers – with their power hitting and power pitching making them prohibitive pre-season Central Division favorite – a 2013 disappointment through June.  (BBRT still expect the Tigers to take the Central).

Michael Cuddyer of the Rockies has also been a 2013 surprise, finishing June on 27-game hitting streak (during which he has averaged .372).  Cuddyer – a career .274 hitter – was hitting .344 with 14 home runs and 48 RBI as June came to a close.

Forty-three-year-old Yankee closer Mariano Rivera continues to surprise on his “farewell tour,” with 26 saves and a 1.55 ERA as June came to a “close.”  Perhaps more unexpected is the performance of forty-year-old Oakland starter Bartolo Colon.  Now in his 16^th season, Colon is 11-2 with a 2.79 ERA.

It also a bit surprising to see three catchers hitting .320 or better at the end of June, but not so much when they are Yadier Molina (.345), Buster Posey (.322) and Joe Mauer (.320).

Then there is the ongoing American League Miguel Cabrera/Chris Davis “show.”  As of June 30, Cabrera has the AL’s number one average (.373), followed by Davis (.332); Davis is the AL home run leader (31), with Cabrera number-two (25).  Cabrera leads the AL in RBI at 82, with Davis in the two spot at 80.  The pair also rank 1 & 2 in runs scored, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and total bases.  As it stands, Cabrera is actually improving on his 2012 Triple Crown season, but may not capture the TC this year, while Davis is exceeding 2012 “career year” of .270-33-85.

The Diamondbacks’ Pat Corbin has also surprised, going 9-0, 2.22 through June.  Corbin’s performance is a big reason the Diamondbacks sit atop the tight NL West (at the end of June, Corbin was the only Arizona starting pitcher with a winning record).  First baseman Paul Goldschmidt, building off a solid 2012 was the surprise NL RBI leader as of June 30, with a .305-19-67 line.  No other Diamondback had more than 27 RBI or 7 homers.

So, there’s a look at a few 2013 MLB surprises through June.  More to come as the season progresses.

Scherzer — 12 and O and a long way to go.

The Tigers’ Max Scherzer last night became the first hurler since Roger Clemens (in 1986) to start a season 12-0.  He is also the first Tiger to accomplish that feat.  Scherzer now stands at 12-0, 3.10 ERA with 131 strikeouts (second in the AL to Yu Darvish) in 110 innings. And, how about that Tiger pitching?  As a whole, the staff is leading MLB with 736 strikeouts,  averaging 9.33 per nine innings.  Among the starters, Scherzer is at 10.69 K’s per nine, Justin Verlander at 10.21 and Anibel Sanchez at 11.13.

The next consecutive win targets for Mad Max? 

The AL record for wins to start a season is shared by Cleveland’s Johnny Allen and Baltimore’s Dave McNally – who each ran off 15 wins before their first lost.  Allen accomplished his streak in 1937 (ending the season 15-1, 2.55), while McNally’s streak came in 1969, when he went 20-7, 3.22.

The NL and MLB records for consecutive victories to start a campaign belong to Hall of Famer Rube Marquard, who ran off 19 wins for the New York Giant before his first 1912 loss.  Marquard led the NL in wins that year at 26, while losing 11 and posting a 2.57 ERA.

How about total wins before the All Star break?  Out of reach.  In 1973, White Sox knuckleballer Wilbur Wood notched a record 18 victories by the break – and didn’t make the All Star team.  (He also had 14 losses on the way to a 24-20, 3.46 record).  His 24 wins led the AL, and he was saved from leading the league in losses by team mate Stan Bahnsen, who went 18-21.  For Wood, by the way, it was the third in a string of four straight twenty-win seasons (1971-74).

For you trivia buffs, the last hurler to league his league in wins and losses in the same season was Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, who went 21-20, 3.39 for the Braves in 1979.   Phil tied for the lead in wins with none other than his brother Joe, who went 21-11, 3.00 for the Astros. The Niekro brothers are the answer to the trivia query “What two brothers have the most MLB wins?”  Phil (318) and Joe (221) combined for 539 MLB victories. (Hall of Famer Phil, notably, led the NL in losses four straight seasons, 1977-80, going 71-76 in that span.  He pitched 24 seasons (until age 48) and went 318-274, 3.35.

Shortstops are in the news in MLB these days – as some “difference makers” at the position are rejoining line ups in need.

Hanley Ramirez is back with the Dodgers and, after a slow start, has gone 12-for-26, with two doubles, three home runs, six runs scored and eight RBI in his past eight games.

Jose Reyes is expected to return to the Blue Jays line up this week, having missed most of the season with a severe ankle sprain.  How much will he boost the resurging Jays?  Reyes, a league batting champ as recently as 2011 and a .292 career hitter, hit .395 with one home run, five RBI and five steals (in 10 games) before his injury.

Yankee captain Derek Jeter has begun taking fielding and batting practice and is expected back – to provide offense and leadership – after the All Star break.

Then there are those difference makers going the other way.  Like the Rockies’ Troy Tulowitzki, who recent went on the DL with a broken rib – and was hitting .347, with 16 homers and 51 RBI.

Anyway, all this media coverage surrounding the off-the-field status of shortstops led BBRT to recall a day when a particular MLB shortstop had a truly different kind of on-the-field day.

Toby Harrah – didn’t need the glove for the June 25, 1976 doubleheader – made good use of the bat though.

On this day, June 25, in 1976, Texas Rangers’ shortstop Toby Harrah played every inning of both games of a double header without ever getting a fielding chance.  Not that the ball wasn’t hit around the infield.  In game one, an 8-4 Rangers’ win over the White Sox, there were eleven infield put outs (not counting the catchers’ six putouts on strikeouts) and eight infield assists. (Second baseman Lenny Randle was most active with one putout and five assists.)  In game two, a 14-9 Rangers’ loss, there were fourteen infield put outs, twelve infield assists and three infield errors.  (Second baseman Lenny Randle was again the most active infielder with two putouts, six assists and two errors.)

On the other end of the spectrum, the most chances ever for a shortstop in a doubleheader is 25; the most in a nine-inning contests is 15 and the most in an extra-inning game is 21.

What Harrah didn’t have a chance to do with the glove, he made up for at the plate.  Apparently well rested due to inactivity in the field, Harrah finished the doubleheader with six hits in eight at bats, two home runs, two runs scored, seven RBI (five in the game one win) and one stolen base. 

For trivia buffs, by the way, Harrah and Bump wills remain the only ML player to hit back-to-back inside-the-park home runs.  It happened in the seventh inning of an 8-2 Rangers’ victory at Yankee Stadium on August 27, 1977.   (The Rangers hit a total of five homers in that game.)

The Minnesota Twins’ third baseman Trevor Plouffe celebrated his return from the disabled list (hadn’t played since May 21) and his 27^th birthday in style yesterday – going three-for-three with a walk, double, home run,  two runs scored and three RBI; as the Twins topped the Division-leading  Tigers 6-3 in Minneapolis.

Nomar Garciaparra threw best birthday party ever – 3 HRs, 8 RBI!

Plouffe’s strong performance, however, fell short of MLB’s best “birthday party” ever.  That would be Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra’s 29^th birthday (July 23, 2002), when he went three-for-five with three home runs (MLB birthday record), three runs scored, eight RBI (another MLB birthday record) and a walk – as the Sox drubbed the Rays 22-4 in Boston.

Today, BBRT would like to look at some other top birthday performances by MLB hitters.

We’ll start with Kirk Gibson, who seemed determined to defy his age.  On May 28, 1994 Gibson celebrated his 37^th birthday coming in as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning and hitting a game-tying three-run homer. Gibson stayed in the game in center field and hit a second round-tripper in the top of the ninth (giving the Tigers a lead they didn’t hold, losing 10-9 in ten innings).  For his birthday, Gibson finished two-for-two with two homers, four RBI and two runs scored.

A year later, the 38-year-old Gibson celebrated his birthday, with a four-hit performance (in six at bats) that included a double, two homers, two runs scored and two RBI.  For you trivia buffs, Gibson is the only MLB MVP Award winner to never make an All Star Team.

Then Phillies’ second baseman Joe Morgan also defied father time.  Batting lead off on his fortieth birthday (September 19, 1983), Morgan went four-for-five with a double, two homers, two runs scored and four RBI, as his Phillies topped the Cubs 7-6.

Birthday bashes aren’t limited to the senior set.  Cubs’ rookie first baseman Brant Brown – a .247 hitter in his five-year MLB career – had arguably his best day ever on his 25^th birthday (June 22, 1996). In a 16-inning 9-6 win over the Padres in San Diego, Brown went five-for-nine with a double, home run (a two-run shot in the 16^th), run scored, two RBI and a stolen base.

Then there is Kansas City DH Mike Sweeney, who turned thirty-one on July 22, 2004 and celebrated with a seven-RBI performance – a Grand Slam and a three-run blast – as his Royals topped the Tigers 13-7 in Detroit.  It was an especially good day for Sweeney who had been in a slump (two-for-twenty with just one RBI in the previous five games).  Sweeney’s line:  two-for-five, two homers, one walk, two runs scored, seven RBI.

Some other multi-homer birthdays:

Mets journeyman first baseman Jim Beauchamp collected two home runs (in a two-for-four game) on his 33^rd birthday (August 21, 1972) as the Mets topped the Astros 4-2. Beauchamp scored twice and drove in three.

Albert Belle, manning left field for the Indians on his 29^th birthday (August 25, 1995), went three-for-three with two home runs, two walks, three runs scored and two RBI as his Indians (at home) topped the Tigers 6-5 in eleven innings.

Ray Boone, of the multi-generational MLB Boone family, won the game for the Indians at Boston on his 28^th birthday (July 27, 1951) with his second home run of the game in the top of the ninth (Cleveland won 3-2).  For the day, Boone was three-for-four, with two runs, two RBI and one walk.

Ken Harrelson did his best to keep his Kansas City Athletics in the game against the Yankees on his 23^rd birthday (September 9, 1964).  Playing at first base, the Hawk went two-for-five, with two runs, three RBI and two walks.  His second homer tied the contest at 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth, and the As lost 9-7 in ten innings.

Milwaukee Brewers’ SS Jose Hernandez celebrated his 33^rd birthday with two homers against the Pirates in a 5-3 Brewers’ win at Milwaukee.  The 6’ 1”, 180-pound utility man had shown some power (the homers were his 16^th and 17^th of the season, following a career-high 25-homer campaign the year before.)  Hernandez went two-for-two, with two homers, a walk, two runs and four RBI.

Andruw Jones was in left field for the White Sox on his 33^rd birthday (April 23, 2010), when he went two-for-four with a walk, two homers, two runs, two RBI and a stolen base.  His second homer was a walk-off game winner in the bottom of the ninth in a 7-6 win over the Mariners.

Houston left fielder Derrick May turned 28 on July 14, 1996 and, in the first game of a doubleheader in New York, contributed to a 7-5, 11-inning Astros’ win, going three-for-five, with two round trippers, a walk, two runs scored, three RBI, and a stolen base for good measure.  (May totaled only five home runs for the season, .251-5-33.)

Yankee left fielder Tim Raines celebrated his 37th birthday, with two three-run homers as the Yanks topped Toronto 10-0 on September 16, 1996.  Raines went tw0-for-five, with two runs and six RBI.

Alex Rodriguez made his “Golden Birthday” (July 27, 2002) truly golden with a tenth-inning walk off grand slam as his Ranger topped Oakland 10-6 in Texas.  For the day, A-Rod was three-for-six, with two home runs (his 33rd and 34th of the season) three runs scored and five RBI.