Orlando Cepeda of the Braves blasts three consecutive homers and collects seven RBIs
Johnny Bench of the Reds and Orlando Cepeda of the Braves each collect three consecutive homers and seven RBIs during respective games with the Cardinals and Cubs. Bench hits all three off Steve Carlton and adds a single in the Reds’ 12 – 5 win over the Cards. Bench now has 33 homers and 95 RBIs to lead the majors. Cepeda collects his seven RBIs in the Braves’ 8 – 3 win over the Cubs in game 1. His first two are solo shots, and the third follows an intentional walk to Hank Aaron to load the bases. His last RBI comes on a single in the 9th. In the nitecap of the twinbill, Cepeda has three hits but the Cubs win, 7 – 6. Glenn Beckert, 2 for 3 in the opener, raps five straight hits in game two to lead Chicago.