For the second time in the season, Barry Bonds hits three home runs in a game. The Giants left fielder, whose offensive output gives him 63 homers, passes the major league season mark of 61 for homers hit left-handed, set by Roger Maris in 1961.
2001 – Shawon Dunston hits the Giants’ 14th pinch home run of the season to tie the Diamondbacks for the big league record. San Francisco defeats Colorado, 7 – 3.
Ranger infielder Alex Rodriguez breaks his American League record (42 in 1998 and 1999 for the Mariners) for home runs by a shortstop with his 43rd long ball of the season. In 1958, Cub Hall of Famer Ernie Banks established the major league record for homers for that position with 47.
Shawn Green breaks a franchise record for homers in a season with his 44th home run, the first of his two dingers the Dodger right fielder will hit of Dustin Hermanson in the team’s 7-1 victory over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. The previous mark had been shared by Duke Snider (1956) and Gary Sheffield (2000).
Joining Babe Ruth (1927 Yankees), Roger Maris (1961 Yankees), Mark McGwire (1998 Cardinals), and Sammy Sosa (1998 Cubs), Barry Bonds becomes the fifth major leaguer to hit 60 home runs in a season. The 37 year-old Giant left fielder, who is the oldest to join this elite group, reaches the historic plateau the quickest, needing only 141 games to reach the milestone.
The first-place Braves draw just 3,613 fans in Montreal as they beat the Expos, 3 – 2. Andruw Jones hits a leadoff homer in the 9th for the difference. The crowd is the smallest at Olympic Stadium in 17 years.
The Indians defeat the White Sox, 6 – 3, as Jose Canseco steals the 200th base of his career. He becomes just the 9th player in history to have that many steals and 400 home runs.
The Cardinals down the Padres, 16 – 14, in the highest-scoring game of the season. St. Louis scores nine runs off Bobby Jones in the 2nd inning, while Ryan Klesko goes 5 for 6 for San Diego, with two home runs, two doubles, and five RBIs. One of the homers travels an estimated 472 feet, the longest by an opposing player at Busch Stadium since figures were recorded in 1988. The Cardinals score two runs on a strikeout when runners, who are breaking from first and second, score after pinch-hitter Bobby Bonilla strikes out throwing his bat down the third-base line, causing Cardinal third baseman Phil Nevin to duck to avoid being hit by the flying lumber. At the same time, catcher Ben Davis’s throw, attempting to cut down the runner at an unmanned third base, goes into left field which allows Edgar Renteria to score from second while Eli Marrero also tallies from first as left fielder Rickey Henderson misplays the ball.
The Marlins defeat the Cubs, 4 – 3, despite Sammy Sosa’s 52nd home run. The blast gives Sosa a share of the National League record for home runs in August, tying the mark set by Willie Mays in 1965. He also ties Babe Ruth for the most homers in seven consecutive seasons: the Babe hit 343 between 1926 and 1932. Mark McGwire has hit 338 homers from 1995 through this year.
Joining Babe Ruth (1920-21 and 1927-28) and Mark McGwire (1996-99), Sammy Sosa (1998-2001) becomes the third player in baseball history to hit 50 homers in a season four times.