In a 3 – 2 win over the Reds, the Dodgers homer in a 32nd consecutive home game at Dodger Stadium, courtesy of A.J. Pollock, dating back to August 21st last season. This ties the all-time record set by the 1999 Rockies.
The history of sports is both vast and rich, thanks to the existence of so many different events and the longevity associated with them. With so much history to cull through, We offer the opportunity to look back and see what memorable things happened or milestones were reached on April 17 in baseball history. …
Puerto Rican native Francisco Lindor hits an emotional two-run home run to lead the Indians to a 6 – 1 win over the Twins in the first game of a two-game series played at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The series is particularly important given the devastation wreaked on the island by Hurricane Maria last September.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first ever game in Oakland, CA, the A’s stage a game featuring free admission to anyone registering in advance. The birthday party is a huge success as over 46,000 spectators show up at the Coliseum to see Oakland defeat the White Sox, 10 – 2.
Patrick Corbin spins a gem for the Diamondbacks as he shuts out the Giants, 1 – 0, on a one-hitter. He keeps the Giants hitless until two are out in the 8th when Brandon Belt hits a squibbler to third base to defeat a defensive shift. The game is still scoreless at that point, but in the bottom of the inning, Arizona scores the only run it needs on a walk by Jarrod Dyson, a sacrifice bunt by Corbin and a single by David Peralta. It is Corbin’s first career shutout.
Eric Thames, back from starring in the Korea Baseball Organization, ties a team record by homering in his fifth straight game as the Brewers defeat the Cubs, 6 – 3. Thames hit 124 long balls over his three seasons in Korea and now has 7 in 14 games this season.
Alfredo Despaigne becomes the first player to win four Serie Nacional Most Valuable Player awards in Cuba; Martin Dihigo had been a four-time MVP in the Cuban Winter Leagueprior to the revolution. Despaigne, who led in average (.406) and slugging (.762) and was second with 17 homers, breaks a tie with Wilfredo Sánchez and Omar Linares. The Rookie of the Year is Isla de la Juventud shortstop Alfredo Rodríguez.
Kris Bryant makes his much-anticipated major league debut for the Cubs, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the team’s 5-4 loss to the Padres at Wrigley Field. Chicago had delayed the start of his season to extend the club’s control on the highly-touted freshman, who will go on to be named the National League’s Rookie of the Year.
Author of a no-hitter when he was a raw youth of 24, the now 36-year-old A.J. Burnett come close to another while leading the Pirates to a 5 – 0 win over the Cardinals. Carlos Beltranbreaks up the no-no with a double with two outs in the 7th. Burnett’s 8 strikeouts on the night include the 2000th of his career, Beltran being the victim in the 2nd inning.
The Tigers and Mariners combine for 40 strikeouts in 14 innings, three short of the major league record set by the Angels and A’s on July 9, 1971, in 20 innings. Prince Fielder leads the pack with five strikeouts, while Austin Jackson and Franklin Gutierrez both earn golden sombreros. Starting pitchers Max Scherzer and Felix Hernandez post almost identical pitching lines, both striking out 12 and giving up a single run in eight innings of work. The Tigers top the M’s, 2 – 1, with the game ending when Justin Smoak is tagged out at home by the Bengals’ Brayan Pena while trying to score the tying run from first base on Dustin Ackley’s double.