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1997 – Bill Spiers draws his sixth consecutive walk (over three games) setting a franchise record during a 6-5 loss at Cincinnati. He is one short of the major-league record. Spiers’ streak is broken later when he is hit by a pitch from Mike Remlinger. He walks in his next plate appearance four days afterwards. His consecutive on-base streak ends at 13 on June 11th, one shy of the NL mark in that category. 

ByTom

1997 – Bill Spiers draws his sixth consecutive walk (over three games) setting a franchise record during a 6-5 loss at Cincinnati. He is one short of the major-league record. Spiers’ streak is broken later when he is hit by a pitch from Mike Remlinger. He walks in his next plate appearance four days afterwards. His consecutive on-base streak ends at 13 on June 11th, one shy of the NL mark in that category. 

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6/2/1997 – The Tigers used two different lineups in their game in Oakland. Brian Hunter led off the game with a triple to right. Then Damion Easley grounded out to first with Hunter scoring on the play. However, Art Howe pointed out that Bobby Higginson was the proper second batter so he was called out and Hunter placed back at third base. In the press box it was announced that the ground out with the first baseman getting an assist and the pitcher getting the putout would stand as the play. However, according to rule 10.03(d) this is not correct. The complete play included the run scoring, which is why Howe objected. In this case, the play should have been an automatic putout for the catcher not the groundout that occurred. The lost run did not affect the Tigers as Hunter scored when the next batter, Melvin Nieves, drove him in with a sacrifice fly. The Tigers beat Oakland, 8-7.

ByTom

6/2/1997 – The Tigers used two different lineups in their game in Oakland. Brian Hunter led off the game with a triple to right. Then Damion Easley grounded out to first with Hunter scoring on the play. However, Art Howe pointed out that Bobby Higginson was the proper second batter so he was called out and Hunter placed back at third base. In the press box it was announced that the ground out with the first baseman getting an assist and the pitcher getting the putout would stand as the play. However, according to rule 10.03(d) this is not correct. The complete play included the run scoring, which is why Howe objected. In this case, the play should have been an automatic putout for the catcher not the groundout that occurred. The lost run did not affect the Tigers as Hunter scored when the next batter, Melvin Nieves, drove him in with a sacrifice fly. The Tigers beat Oakland, 8-7.

1997 – At Dolphin Stadium, Colorado Rockies rookie pitcher John Thomson bats his first four major league hits, collects three RBI, and earns his first win, 9 – 2, over the Florida Marlins.

ByTom

1997 – At Dolphin Stadium, Colorado Rockies rookie pitcher John Thomson bats his first four major league hits, collects three RBI, and earns his first win, 9 – 2, over the Florida Marlins.

Ila Borders becomes the first woman to play in a minor league game. The St. Paul Saints reliever gives up three runs to the Sioux Falls Canaries without recording an out, but will redeem herself the next day by striking out the side.

ByBaseball

Ila Borders becomes the first woman to play in a minor league game. The St. Paul Saints reliever gives up three runs to the Sioux Falls Canaries without recording an out, but will redeem herself the next day by striking out the side.

In Florida‚ Rockies OF Ellis Burks hits a two-run double to cap a three-run rally in the 9th inning and help Colorado beat Florida‚ 6 – 5. Colorado trails, 4 – 0, in the 6th‚ before Larry Walker‚ Andres Galarraga‚ and Dante Bichette hit consecutive homers off Alex Fernandez.

ByThis Day in Baseball

In Florida‚ Rockies OF Ellis Burks hits a two-run double to cap a three-run rally in the 9th inning and help Colorado beat Florida‚ 6 – 5. Colorado trails, 4 – 0, in the 6th‚ before Larry Walker‚ Andres Galarraga‚ and Dante Bichette hit consecutive homers off Alex Fernandez.

In Toronto‚ Tino Martinez hits his 20th homer – his third in three games – and David Cone strikes out 12 to lead New York over Toronto‚ 4 – 0. Jeff Nelson strikes out 3 Jays in relief. Martinez raises his RBI total to 56 with a single in the 1st off Woody Williams (1-5) and a solo shot in the 3rd.

ByBaseball

In Toronto‚ Tino Martinez hits his 20th homer – his third in three games – and David Cone strikes out 12 to lead New York over Toronto‚ 4 – 0. Jeff Nelson strikes out 3 Jays in relief. Martinez raises his RBI total to 56 with a single in the 1st off Woody Williams (1-5) and a solo shot in the 3rd.

The Padres send Hideki Irabu to the Yankees to complete the April 22nd trade that dealt two players to be named later, Gordon Amerson (minors) and Homer Bush to New York, in exchange for Rafael Medina, Ruben Rivera, and $3,000,000. The 28 year-old Japanese right-hander, who was purchased by San Diego from the Chiba Lotte Marines in January but refused to sign with the team, insisting he would only play with the Bronx Bombers, will become a disappointment to George Steinbrenner, often incurring the owner’s wrath during his three years in the Big Apple, where he posts a mediocre 29-20 record.

ByTom

The Padres send Hideki Irabu to the Yankees to complete the April 22nd trade that dealt two players to be named later, Gordon Amerson (minors) and Homer Bush to New York, in exchange for Rafael Medina, Ruben Rivera, and $3,000,000. The 28 year-old Japanese right-hander, who was purchased by San Diego from the Chiba Lotte Marines in January but refused to sign with the team, insisting he would only play with the Bronx Bombers, will become a disappointment to George Steinbrenner, often incurring the owner’s wrath during his three years in the Big Apple, where he posts a mediocre 29-20 record.

Ken Griffey, Jr. of the Seattle Mariners breaks his own major league record for home runs hit through May by connecting for his 23rd of the season in an 11 – 10 loss to Minnesota. Griffey breaks the mark he set in 1994 with 22 homers. In the same game, Mariners second baseman Joey Cora extends his hitting streak to 22 games, to set a team record and tie the American League mark for switch-hitters.

ByBaseball

Ken Griffey, Jr. of the Seattle Mariners breaks his own major league record for home runs hit through May by connecting for his 23rd of the season in an 11 – 10 loss to Minnesota. Griffey breaks the mark he set in 1994 with 22 homers. In the same game, Mariners second baseman Joey Cora extends his hitting streak to 22 games, to set a team record and tie the American League mark for switch-hitters.

Sammy Sosa and Tony Womack hit inside-the-park home runs in the 6th inning It’s the first time two inside-the-park homers had been hit in the same inning in 20 years.

Sammy Sosa and Tony Womack hit inside-the-park home runs in the 6th inning It’s the first time two inside-the-park homers had been hit in the same inning in 20 years.

ByBaseball

 Chicago Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa and Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Tony Womack hit inside-the-park home runs in the 6th inning of the Cubs’ 2 – 1 win. It’s the first time two inside-the-park homers had been hit in the same inning in 20 years.

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Darryl Kile blanks the Rockies at Coors Field for seven innings during a 7-0 whitewash, allowing four hits

ByTom

1997 – Darryl Kile blanks the Rockies at Coors Field for seven innings during a 7-0 whitewash, allowing four hits. Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell blast homers for Houston. Kile would opt for Colorado and free agency after the season, despite warnings his pitching would suffer in the thin Rocky Mountain air.