Gone with the Wind-Up: 3 HRs in a 6-batter stint
Posted by John Autin on July 23, 2011
Chad Qualls came into the 7th Saturday with a 4-3 lead. Pinch-hitter Ryan Howard whacked the first pitch over the CF fence, and the inning unraveled from there. Qualls wound up allowing 3 HRs, a double and a walk, getting 1 out while facing 6 batters.
Qualls this year had allowed 1 HR in 45 IP before today. He had never allowed more than 2 HRs or 3 extra-base hits in a game.
However, it's not even the worst outing of this month in terms of HRs per batter faced. On July 7, Baltimore's Pedro Viola allowed HRs to the first 3 men he faced, then walked a batter before being pulled. Five others in the searchable era have allowed 3 HRs in a 4-batter stint, including one starting pitcher.
Here are the other pitchers since 1919 who've allowed 3+ HRs while facing 5 batters or less:
| Rk | Player | Date | Tm | Opp | Rslt | App,Dec | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | Pit | Str | IR | IS | BF | AB | 2B | 3B | IBB | HBP | SH | SF | GDP | SB | CS | PO | BK | WP | WPA | RE24 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pedro Viola | 2011-07-07 | BAL | BOS | L 4-10 | 7-7 | 0.0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | inf | -0.029 | -3.262 | .050 |
| 2 | Todd Jones | 2002-09-19 | COL | STL | L 6-12 | 8-7 | 0.0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | inf | -0.240 | -3.636 | .510 |
| 3 | Mike Trombley | 2000-05-13 | BAL | BOS | L 1-5 | 8-8 ,BL | 0.0 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | inf | -0.749 | -4.864 | .862 |
| 4 | Dave Stevens | 1995-06-11 | MIN | DET | L 2-8 | 9-8 | 0.0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | inf | -0.082 | -4.000 | .163 |
| 5 | Mark Lee | 1991-05-18 | MIL | KCR | L 4-7 | 8-8 ,BL | 0.1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 81.00 | -0.631 | -2.765 | 1.305 |
| 6 | Wade Blasingame | 1972-06-27 | NYY | DET | L 2-5 | GS-1 ,L | 0.0 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | inf | -0.347 | -4.000 | .845 | ||||
| 7 | Phil Dumatrait | 2007-09-09 | CIN | MIL | L 5-10 | GS-0 ,L | 0.0 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | inf | -0.310 | -4.013 | .762 | ||
| 8 | Jack Cressend | 2001-08-21 | MIN | TOR | L 5-7 | 6-6 ,BL | 0.1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 81.00 | -0.420 | -3.015 | 1.160 |
| 9 | Pat Mahomes | 2001-08-17 | TEX | TOR | L 3-11 | 6-6 | 0.1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 33 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 108.00 | -0.070 | -4.130 | .158 |
| 10 | Rudy Seanez | 2001-06-28 | SDP | LAD | L 4-7 | 8-8 ,L | 0.2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40.50 | -0.424 | -2.621 | .754 |
| 11 | Alan Benes | 2001-06-08 | STL | COL | L 1-9 | 8-8 | 0.1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 108.00 | -0.015 | -3.707 | .028 |
| 12 | Dario Veras | 1997-04-16 | SDP | PIT | W 7-5 | 8-8 | 0.1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 108.00 | -0.227 | -3.752 | .846 |
| 13 | Steve Reed | 1996-08-17 (2) | COL | CIN | L 5-9 | 8-8 ,BL | 0.1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 108.00 | -0.689 | -4.123 | 1.542 |
| 14 | Jim Gott | 1984-09-18 | TOR | BOS | L 3-10 | 6-6 | 0.1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 108.00 | -0.141 | -4.764 | .158 | ||
| 15 | Pete Redfern | 1979-08-14 | MIN | BOS | L 1-12 | GS-1 ,L | 0.2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40.50 | -0.224 | -2.561 | .568 | ||||
| 16 | Fritz Peterson | 1974-07-29 | CLE | DET | L 2-8 | GS-1 ,L | 0.1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 108.00 | -0.337 | -3.785 | .840 | ||||
| 17 | Wes Stock | 1964-05-06 | BAL | CLE | L 5-7 | 6-6 ,BS | 0.2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40.50 | -0.346 | -3.308 | .826 | ||
| 18 | Warren Hacker | 1953-07-18 | CHC | NYG | L 7-12 | GS-1 ,L | 0.0 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | inf | -0.400 | -5.000 | .933 | ||||
| 19 | Mike Garcia | 1950-07-16 (1) | CLE | BOS | L 10-13 | GS-1 | 0.1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 108.00 | -0.267 | -3.710 | .866 | ||||
| 20 | Les Sweetland | 1928-06-02 | PHI | STL | L 12-13 | 0.1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 108.00 |
One more thing: As a pinch-hitter, Ryan Howard is now 13 for 30, with 6 HRs and 13 RBI. As a substitute, he has 8 HRs in 42 ABs, with 17 RBI. I have no idea how to check career PH ratios, but this one's impressive, even for the guy with the 3rd best HR% in MLB history.
July 23rd, 2011 at 8:33 pm
Martinez's HR was one of the most amazing ABs of the year. He comes up with a man on 1st, 2nd and nobody out. He had already attempted to sacrifice bunt earlier in the game and had failed miserably, but since he really isn't that good of a hitter and it was a tied game he tried again. He foul tips a bunt into the catcher's mitt. He fouls another bunt. Finally giving up on the pretense that he might not bunt, he squares up early only to take a wild pitch moving the runners up. At this point he may as well swing, so he hits one out to the right field stands. rofl.
July 23rd, 2011 at 9:57 pm
Rangers starter Matt Harrison gave up the "cycle" to the first four Blue Jays he faced in the 6th inning. Jose Bautista hit a broken bat bloop single following an Arenciba homer, an Escobar double and a Thames triple.
July 23rd, 2011 at 10:13 pm
@2, Doug -- Nice find on the inning-cycle!
July 23rd, 2011 at 10:18 pm
@1, Travis -- Since my Mets were the team victimized by Michael Martinez's other "surprise!" 3-run HR, what I want to know is:
Where does this 28-year-old journeyman get off not knowing how to get a bunt down?!? 🙂
Actually, he had 58 sacrifices in 5 years in the minors, including 20 in one year.
Incidentally, do you know why Martinez -- from the Dominican Republic -- didn't sign with a U.S. club until age 23? Did he play in Japan or something like that?
July 23rd, 2011 at 10:41 pm
@4, JA -- no idea, all I know is the Phillies picked him up as a rule 5 from Washington[for their 3rd rule 5 draft pick on the active roster which I always find amusing]. He inexplicably stayed on the roster for 2 months, started getting regular playing time and has had a very good 2 weeks or so.
July 24th, 2011 at 1:20 am
Apparently Martinez got a late start because of military service.
July 24th, 2011 at 1:30 am
Martinez's HR was one of the most amazing ABs of the year. He comes up with a man on 1st, 2nd and nobody out. He had already attempted to sacrifice bunt earlier in the game and had failed miserably, but since he really isn't that good of a hitter and it was a tied game he tried again. He foul tips a bunt into the catcher's mitt. He fouls another bunt. Finally giving up on the pretense that he might not bunt, he squares up early only to take a wild pitch moving the runners up. At this point he may as well swing, so he hits one out to the right field stands.
I had the game on at this point but was only partly paying attention. I think one of the announcers (Karros??) said something about how Martinez needs to be able to get a bunt down if he wants to be in the majors. I mutters to myself that he's in the majors, so maybe management thinks he's been doing whatever he's been doing OK. Then he hits it out, and I chuckle about how it's too bad the guy couldn't get the bunt down.
About 4 years ago, early in the season I think, there was a Reds game when Edwin Encarnacion tried and failed to bunt. Marty Brennaman started freaking out, talking about how useless Encarnacion was and how he could never get a clutch hit. Next pitch BOOM home run, which at least put Cincy into a late lead, if it didn't win the game.
Not that one PA ever proves anything, but I do like seeing sputtering announcers get popped right in the face.
July 24th, 2011 at 1:39 am
@2, Doug -- You've been quoted:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/13335#more-13335
July 24th, 2011 at 9:14 pm
Martinez stats are quite interesting. He's been in 52 games, starting 23. He's started at 2B, 3B, SS, LF and CF. He's also PH, PR and has two SH and SF and is 3 for 3 on SB. He has no infield errors, but 2 in the OF. He has a 6 game hitting streak (8/24 with 2 HR's) and is 15/51 in July. He has played error-free 3B in place of the injured Placido Polanco, who hasn't played since July 6. Wilson Valdez has also been used at 3B. Since both players have been on the roster all season and with Polanco hurt, I don't see any danger of him being sent down soon.
July 24th, 2011 at 11:39 pm
Both of Martinez's major league home runs have been 3-run homers.
I don't have time to play around with the Play Index right now, but I wonder if there is a way to find out the most home runs to start a player's career before the player hit a solo homer.
Martinez is one of two players originally signed by the Expos/Nationals who hit their first major league home runs as a 2011 Phillie. The other one, Cliff Lee, hit a solo home run that was the only run of the game for his team. Too bad it wasn't a 1-0 win.
I read that Martinez was a police officer in the Dominican Republic before signing with the Nationals. When I heard that the Phillies had picked a guy who was 27 or 28 years old in the Rule 5 draft, I figured he was someone who had been around in the minors for a long time and that the Nationals were probably not his first organization.
As noted elsewhere, the Phillies currently have three Rule 5 picks playing for them - Martinez, Shane Victorino (another player for whom Martinez has filled in this year), and David Herndon. The 1993 pennant winning team had two Rule 5 picks - Dave Hollins and Todd Pratt. In between, they did not have any notable ones, as far as I can remember. One of those years, they picked David Miller, a native of the Philadelphia area, from Cleveland. He was a sentimental favorite to make the team, but he was one of the late cuts and was sent back to the Indians. I don't think he ever made it to the majors with Cleveland or any other team.
July 25th, 2011 at 1:19 am
I don't know what the record is, but Ted Williams had 9 homers before his first solo homer.
July 25th, 2011 at 7:56 am
Nice, Baltimore has two of the occurrences giving up 3 HR when facing 4 batters.
July 25th, 2011 at 10:54 am
Four homers in a row - one pitcher.
On July 31, 1963 Paul Foytack (Cleveland) gave up HRs to the last 4 batters out of 10 Boston batters that he faced. One was Tito Francona.
He is 12th on the career list of players giving up the most HR's pitching less than 1500 innings.
On April 22, 2007 Chase Wright (NYY) faced 18 batters and gave up homers to batters for Boston (Manager Tony Francona, Tito's son) numbers 14-17, One being J.D. Drew (his second time involved in a 4 straight HR game). This was the Wright's second GS. He relieved 1 game later that season for a 3 game ML career with a 2-0 record. Wright is tied for 2nd on the list of players with 10 or fewer innings with 5 HRs. Rob Radlofsky piched 7 games and gave up 7 HRs in 8.2 innings, 45 batters faced. Wright is in now AAA for Milwaukee.
August 11, 2010 David Bush (Brewers) gave up 4 consecutive HR's to Arizona, one being to Stephen Drew, JD's brother. Bush is 5th on the list of most homers for pitching less than 1200 innings. He's currently pitching for the Rangers.
July 25th, 2011 at 12:10 pm
The only pitcher on your list with 4 HRs, Pat Mahomes is 5th for HR's for pitchers with less than 750 innings, but once had a stretch where he went 12-0. Highest WHIP for a pitcher with at least 700 innings, pitching at least 75% of games in relief (1.594).
July 25th, 2011 at 12:15 pm
Charles, two small corrections to your post #13. Paul Foytack was pitching for the Los Angeles Angels on July 31, 1963, and the team that hit four straight homers off him was the Indians.
July 25th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
@14 -- When he was with the Mets, my buddy Mike called him "Pat MaHomers".
July 25th, 2011 at 1:20 pm
@15 You're right. I was looking at McLish's 1957 game where he gave up 4 homers. That was Cleveland-Boston. His was SO, HR, HR, BB, HR, HR.
July 27th, 2011 at 11:02 am
[...] Gone with the Wind-Up: 3 HRs in a 6-batter stint (Baseball-Reference). Padres right-hander Chad Qualls had a rough game in Philly on Saturday. [...]