This is one of those “one thing leads to another” kind of Baseball Roundtable posts. I started out looking at players who gave up (an MLB-record) five home runs in an inning. There were three.
Nathan Eovaldi faced 11 batters in his five-homer inning, retired two batters and gave up nine runs. In addition to the five homers, he gave up a double and two singles and one batter was safe on an error in the inning. Chase Anderson faced nine batters in his five-homer inning, retired two and gave up seven runs. In addition to the five homers, he gave up a double and a walk in the frame. Michael Blazek faced just seven batters in his five-homer inning, retired one and gave up six runs. In addition to the five homers, he walked one batter.
This look at five-homer innings led me to wonder what would happen if I dropped the cut off to four homers in an inning. Big change. Turns out that’s not so rare. It brings in 41 more pitchers, including some pretty well-recognized names, like Randy Johnson, Justin Verlander, John Smoltz, Catfish Hunter, Zack Grienke and Mike Caldwell. (Side note: That puts the players detailed in this post in some good company – and remember, every pitcher mentioned here made it to the major leagues.).
Ultimately, 41 seemed like a lot of pitchers to include in a post. So, one thing led to another and I took a look at players who gave up four consecutive home runs in an inning and – Bingo! – lucky number seven. I had the main topic for this post.
—-MLB PLAYERS TO GIVE UP FOUR CONSECUTIVE HOME RUNS—-
Roel Ramirez, RHP, Cardinals …. August 16, 2020
I’m leading off with Ramirez because he’s a bit of unicorn on this list (most of which will be presented in chronological order).
An MLB Unicorn
Roel Ramirez is the only player to give up four consecutive home runs in his MLB debut.
The 25-year-old Ramirez made his MLB debut on August 16 of the 2020 Covid-disrupted season. An eighth-round MLB draft signee (Rays, 1987) out of United South High School (Laredo, Texas), he had seven minor-league seasons under his belt (32-24, 3.68) when he made his major-league debut.
Ramirez came on in relief to open the bottom of the fifth, with his Cardinals trailing the White Sox 1-0. He fanned the first MLB batter he ever faced (on a 2-2 pitch in a tough seven-pitch at bat) – and that was the highlight of his debut. Here’s how it went:
- Strikeout of CF Luis Robert, Jr.;
- Single by RF Nomar Mazara;
- Single by 2B Danny Mendick, Mazara goes to third.
- Mendick thrown out attempting to steal second with SS Tim Anderson at the plate.
- Walk to Anderson;
- Wild pitch with 3B Yoan Moncada at the plate;
- Three-run home run by Moncada;
- Home run by C Yazmani Grandal;
- Home run by 1B Jose Abreu;
The home runs to Moncada, Grandal and Abreu came in a span of four pitches: The fifth and final pitch (2-2 count) to Moncada; a 1-0 pitch to Grandal; and the first pitch to Abreu.
- Home run by LF Eloy Jimenez;
Seth Elledge relieves Ramirez and strikes out DH Edwin Encarnacion on three pitches.
It was Ramirez’ only mound appearance of 2020 (remember due to Covid, there was no minor-league season). In fact, Ramirez has appeared in only one more MLB game. On June 30, 2021, he pitched one-third of an inning in a Cardinals’ 7-4 win versus Arizona. In that one, he gave up one run on three hits and two walks. Since that time, Ramirez has pitched in the Triple-A East; International League; South Atlantic League; Mexican League; and Mexican Pacific Winter League. His current MLB career stat line is 0-0, 81.00 in two games.
———-
Michael Blazek, RHP, Brewers … July 27, 2017
Like Ramirez, Blazek got moved up on this list due to special circumstances surrounding his four-consecutive-homer game.
One For The Books
In a single game, Michael Blazek earned a share of the MLB records for consecutive home runs allowed and home runs surrendered in an inning (five), as well as a share of the and the Modern Era (post-1900) record for home runs allowed in a game (six). Charlie Sweeney of the 1886 St, Louis Maroons gave up seven homers in a game on June 12, 1886.
Blazek was in his fourth MLB season, when he got a July 27, 2017 start (for the Brewers) against the Nationals in Washington D.C. It was his fifth appearance and first start of the season. He came into the game with a 2017 record of 0-0, 2.21 over 6 1/3 innings. His career MLB record, at the time, was 8-5, 3.88 in 108 appearances. The July 27 game was his first (and would be his only) MLB start.
Blazek gave up two runs in the first inning on a double by CF Brian Goodman and two-run homer by RF Bryce Harper. He tossed a scoreless second and then, in the third inning, already trailing 2-0, the roof fell in. It looked like this:
- P Max Scherzer walked in a seven-pitch plate appearance);
- Two-run homer (on a 1-0 pitch) by Goodwin;
- Home run (on a 1-1 pitch) by SS Wilmer Difo;
- Home run by Harper;
Blazek did not give in to Harper, who had homered off him on the first pitch to him in the first inning. This long ball came on a 3-2 count, on the ninth pitch of the at bat. That battle may have taken its toll, as Ryan Zimmerman followed with a first-pitch homer.
- Home run by 1B Ryan Zimmerman;
- Flyout by 2B Daniel Murphy;
- Home run by 3B Anthony Rendon.
Wily Peralta relieved Blazek.
Two weeks later, Blazek was designated for assignment and didn’t appear in an MLB game again until 2019, when he pitched in four games for the Nationals. He ended 2017 with an MLB season mark of 0-1, 8.31 in five games. Blazek pitched in five MLB seasons (2013, 2015-17, 2019 … Cardinals, Brewers, Nationals), going 8-6, 4.50 in 113 games.
———-
Paul Foytack, RHP, Angels …July 31, 1963
Foytack’s season record stood at 3-4, 5.31 when he came on in relief in the bottom of the fifth inning of the second game of a doubleheader against the Indians, with his Angels down 5-1. He pitched a scoreless fifth (one single, three infield ground outs) and got the first two outs in the sixth (strikeout, flyout) before things went awry. After those first two sixth- inning outs, it went like this:
- Home run by 2B Woodie Held;
- Home run by P Pedro Ramos;
Ramos’ home run was his second of the game and second of the season.
- Home run by RF Tito Francona;
- Home run by SS Larry Brown.
Foytack relieved by Jack Spring.
The Angels ultimately lost 9-4, with Foytack getting a no-decision.
Foytack finished 1963 at 5-6, 4.70 in 29 games (21 starts). He played in 11 MLB seasons (1953, 1955-64 … Tigers Angels), going 86-87, 4.14 with seven saves in 312 games/193 starts). His best season was 1958 (Tigers) at 15-13, 3.44 with 16 complete games. In the four seasons from 1956 through 1959, he went 58-51, 3.72 (winning 14 or 15 games each year) with 51 complete games.
———
Chase Wright, LHP, Yankees…April 22, 2007
Wright, who had gone 12-3, 1.88 for High-A Tampa Yankees in 2006, got his only taste of the majors in 2007. On April 22, in his second MLB start (and appearance), Wright was facing the Red Sox in Boston. He came into the game 1-0, 5.40, having picked up a win with a three-run, five-inning performance against the Indians in his first MLB start (April 17). Wright held the Red Sox scoreless, despite one hit and three walks, over the first two innings. He did have to work pretty hard, tossing 52 pitches over the first two innings, many of them under pressure. Then came the bottom of the third:
- Flyout by 1B Kevin Youkilis;
- Flyout by DH David Ortiz;
- Home run by LF Manny Ramirez;
- Home run by RF J.D. Drew;
- Home Run by 3B Mike Lowell;
- Home Run by C Jason Varitek;
- Strikeout by CF Wily Mo Pena.
Wright, who was relieved by Colter Bean to start the fourth inning, was soon back in the minors and didn’t pitch in the majors again until September 30 – a two-inning, one-run relief stint versus the Orioles (which was also his final MLB game). He did pitch until 2013, appearing on the mound in the minor leagues, independent ball and the Dominican Republic.)
Wright’s final MLB stat line was 2-0, 7.20 in three games (two starts).
———
Dave Bush, RHP, Brewers … August 11, 2010
Bush was in his seventh MLB season when he started for the Brewers against the Diamondbacks (August 11, 2010). It was his 24th appearance (23rd start) of the season and he brought a 5-10, 4.78 record into the game. Bush gave up just two singles over the first three frames (and had a 2-0 lead), but things got a little rough in the fourth. It went like this:
- RF Justin Upton flyout;
- Home run by 1B Adam LaRoche;
- Home run by C Miguel Montero;
- Home run by 3B Mark Reynolds;
- Home run by SS Stephen Drew;
- Single by LF Gerardo Parra;
- Bunt sacrifice by P Daniel Hudson, with Parra going to second;
- Flyout by CF Chris Young.
Surprisingly, despite the four-homer inning, Bush did not leave the game. He, in fact, settled down and retired the Diamondbacks in order in the fifth. He did not make it through the sixth, however, being relieved after giving up two walks and a hit-by-pitch to the first four batters of the inning – leaving the game with the bases loaded and one out. All three runners scored, as reliever Todd Coffey gave up a bases-clearing double to Diamondbacks’ pitcher Hudson (Who needs the DH?). Bush took the loss in an 8-2 Arizona win over Milwaukee.
Bush finished the 2010 season at 8-13, 4.54 in 32 appearances (31 starts). He pitched in nine MLB seasons (2004-11, 2013), going 56-69, 4.73 in 211 games (187 starts, six complete games, three shutouts).
———-
Craig Stammen, RHP, Padres … June 9, 2019
Stammen was in his tenth MLB season when he took came on in relief to open the eighth inning against the Nationals in a 1-1 tie. At the time, his season record was 4-2, 3.27 with two saves and 15 holds in 30 appearances. After this appearance, his season ERA would be just over one-run higher (4.28). Here’s how his outing went:
- C Yan Gomes grounded out to 3B-1B;
- Home run by PH Howie Kendrick;
- Home run by SS Trea Turner;
- Home run by RF Adam Eaton;
- Home run by 3B Anthony Rendon;
- Strikeout of LF Juan Soto;
- Single by 1B Matt Adams.
Miguel Diaz replaced Stammen on the mound.
Stammen took the loss, as his Padres fell 5-2.
Stammen finished the 2019 season at 8-7, 3.29, with four saves in 76 appearances. He pitched in 13 MLB seasons (2009-15, 2017-22 … Nationals, Padres), going 55-44, 3.66, with six saves in 562 appearances (three starts).
———-
Kyle Gibson, RHP, Phillies … July 2, 2022
Gibson was in his tenth MLB season when he started for the Phillies against the Cardinals (in Philadelphia) on July 2, 2022. It was his 16th start of the season and he came into the game with a 4-3, 4.48 record. I would guess the 27,657 in attendance were – for the most part – pretty disappointed after the top of the first inning. It went like this:
- SS Tommy Edman, line out to left on a 2-2 pitch;
- LF Brendan Donovan, ground out to short on1-1 pitch;
Seven pitches, two outs, not a bad start.
- Single by 1B Paul Goldschmidt on a 1-2 pitch;
- Two-run home Run by 3B Nolan Arenado on a 2-1 pitch;
- Home run by 2B Nolan Gorman on a 2-1 pitch;
- Home run by DH Juan Yepez on a 1-2 pitch;
- Home run by CF Dylan Carlson on a 1-0 pitch;
- Flyout by RF Lars Nootbaar on a 2-2 pitch.
Gibson lasted into the fifth inning in the game, giving up six runs in the Phillies’ 7-6 loss.
Gibson finished the 2022 season at 10-8, 5.05 in 31 starts. Active through 2024, his current MLB stat line (2013-24 … Twins, Rangers, Phillies, Orioles, Cardinals) is 112-108, 4.52 in 330 appearances (324 starts), with three complete games (one shutout).
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