Records (we’re talking vinyl; here) have two-sides. Yesterday (April 8, 2019), a couple of MLB hitting records were broken or tied – and they were, figuratively, on both sides of the offensive album. On one side, the Orioles’ Chris Davis set a new record for futility in the batter’s box, while on other side the Mariners’ Edwin Encarnación tied an MLB record for success beyond the reaches of the ball field.
Photo by Keith Allison 
Let’s start with Davis. Yesterday, Davis went zero-for-five, with two strikeouts, as the Orioles pounded out 15 hits in a 12-4 thrashing of the A’s in Oakland. In the process, Davis set a new MLB record for consecutive at bats without a base hit at 49 (and still counting). Davis’ streak started after the second inning of a game on September 14, 2018 (when he doubled off James Shields). Since then, he has played in another 14 games, collected 32 plate appearances and 49 at bats – with no hits, six walks, 29 strikeouts, one run and two RBI. As Sonny and Cher might sing on vinyl – “And the streak goes on.”
Last season, Chris Davis set the MLB record for the lowest batting average by a player qualifying for the batting title, when he hit .168 (79-for-470). To be fair, Davis is also one of only 29 MLB players to hit 50 home runs in a season. In 2013, Davis hit .286, and led the AL with 53 home runs and 138 RBI.
The previous record of 46 consecutive at bats without a hit was held by Eugenio Vélez – who went hitless from a game on July 20, 2010 until his final MLB game on August 20, 2011. Over that time, Vélez played in 29 MLB games, getting 52 plate appearances, 46 at bats) – with no hits, three walks and 12 whiffs. He did score one run and drive in one. Vélez started his streak as a Giant and it ended as a Dodger. (Well, it didn’t really end, Vélez’ streak was still active when he was released by the Dodgers. He has since played in the U.S. Minor Leagues, the Dominican Winter League, The Mexican League and Mexican Pacific Winter League – but has not made it back to the majors. In 2018-19, he went a combined .281-1-9 in 27 games in the Dominican and Mexican Winter Leagues. Maybe someone should give the 36-years-old another shot at extending or breaking the streak.
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Now, for the other side of the record book.
Photo by james_in_to
Yesterday, the Mariners’ Edwin Encarnación hit his third and fourth home runs of the 2019 season. For the day, Encarnación was two-for-four with two runs scored and four RBI. Of importance is the fact that they both came in the sixth inning of Seattle’s 13-5 win over the Royals. Of, perhaps, even more importance is that it was the second time in his career that Encarnacion has gone deep twice in one inning. And, that ties an MLB record. Fifty-six different players have hit two home runs in one MLB inning (MLB.com) – but only five players have accomplished the feat twice.
A few other two-home run inning tidbits:
- Fernando Tatis of the Cardinals is the only player to hit two Grand Slams in one inning – the third frame of a Cardinals’ 12-5 win over the Dodgers on April 23, 1999. Maybe a greater surprise is that Dodgers’ starter Chan Ho Park was on the mound for both long balls.
- On May 2, 2002, as the Mariners beat the White Sox 15-4, Seattle’s Brett Boone and Mike Cameron both hit two home runs in the first inning. It’s the only time two teammates have hit two home runs in an inning in the same game – and they did it back-to-back. Boone was hitting third and Cameron fourth.
- Only three players have hit home runs from both sides of the plate in the same inning: Carlos Baerga, Indians (versus Yankees) – April 8, 1993; seventh inning; Mark Bellhorn, Cubs (Brewers) – August 29, 2002; Fourth inning; and Kendrys Morales, Angels (versus Rangers) – July 30, 2012; sixth inning.
Primary Resources: MLB.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; Baseball-Reference.com
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