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Gary Sheffield becomes the 25th member of the 500 home run club. He delivers a pinch-hit homer off the Brewers’ Mitch Stetter in the 7th inning of a game at Citi Field, still in its first month of operation. It is Sheffield’s first home run for the New York Mets, after having been released in spring training by the Detroit Tigers while sitting on 499 home runs. The Mets win the game, 5 – 4, on Luis Castillo’s 9th inning two-out single.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Gary Sheffield becomes the 25th member of the 500 home run club. He delivers a pinch-hit homer off the Brewers’ Mitch Stetter in the 7th inning of a game at Citi Field, still in its first month of operation. It is Sheffield’s first home run for the New York Mets, after having been released in spring training by the Detroit Tigers while sitting on 499 home runs. The Mets win the game, 5 – 4, on Luis Castillo’s 9th inning two-out single.

Washington’s right fielder Adam Dunn and third baseman Ryan Zimmerman start the game against Florida with the word “Nationals” misspelled on the front of their uniforms. Majestic Athletic, the manufacturer of the jerseys, takes full responsibility for the missing “O” and apologizes for the mistake to the organization, the players, and their fans.

ByTom

Washington’s right fielder Adam Dunn and third baseman Ryan Zimmerman start the game against Florida with the word “Nationals” misspelled on the front of their uniforms. Majestic Athletic, the manufacturer of the jerseys, takes full responsibility for the missing “O” and apologizes for the mistake to the organization, the players, and their fans.

Jason Kubel blasts a grand slam to become the ninth Twins player to hit for the cycle, the first to do it at the Metrodome since 1986 when Kirby Puckett accomplished the feat in front of the home crowd. The left fielder’s bases-full homer caps a seven-run eighth inning in Minnesota’s 11-9 comeback victory over the Angels.

ByTom

Jason Kubel blasts a grand slam to become the ninth Twins player to hit for the cycle, the first to do it at the Metrodome since 1986 when Kirby Puckett accomplished the feat in front of the home crowd. The left fielder’s bases-full homer caps a seven-run eighth inning in Minnesota’s 11-9 comeback victory over the Angels.

The Padres and Rockies begin a marathon game at PETCO Park. The game goes 6 hours and 16 minutes and 22 innings, the longest major league contest in 15 years. 15 pitchers throw a combined 658 pitches. It is the third straight Padres-Rockies contest to go at least 13 innings. Kip Wells gets the victory. Neither starter Jake Peavy nor Jeff Francis allow a run; the game is scoreless through 12. In the 13th, coach Glenn Hoffman waives Paul McAnulty home but Brad Hawpe and Clint Barmes make fine throws to get McAnulty at home. In the 14th, Hawpe coaxes a bases-loaded walk from Kevin Cameron for the first run of the game. In the bottom of the 14th, though, Manuel Corpas allows a run when Josh Bard drives in Kevin Kouzmanoff. SS Troy Tulowitzki makes a game-saving throw home to prevent the Padres from winning the game in that inning. In the 22nd, CF Willy Taveras reaches on a Khalil Greeneerror. Taveras steals second and moves to third on Bard’s throwing error. Tulowitzki then singles off Glendon Rusch to finally end the game.

ByBaseball

The Padres and Rockies begin a marathon game at PETCO Park. The game goes 6 hours and 16 minutes and 22 innings, the longest major league contest in 15 years. 15 pitchers throw a combined 658 pitches. It is the third straight Padres-Rockies contest to go at least 13 innings. Kip Wells gets the victory. Neither starter Jake Peavy nor Jeff Francis allow a run; the game is scoreless through 12. In the 13th, coach Glenn Hoffman waives Paul McAnulty home but Brad Hawpe and Clint Barmes make fine throws to get McAnulty at home. In the 14th, Hawpe coaxes a bases-loaded walk from Kevin Cameron for the first run of the game. In the bottom of the 14th, though, Manuel Corpas allows a run when Josh Bard drives in Kevin Kouzmanoff. SS Troy Tulowitzki makes a game-saving throw home to prevent the Padres from winning the game in that inning. In the 22nd, CF Willy Taveras reaches on a Khalil Greeneerror. Taveras steals second and moves to third on Bard’s throwing error. Tulowitzki then singles off Glendon Rusch to finally end the game.

Alex Rodriguez becomes just the third player to hit eight homers in the first 12 games or less

ByThis Day in Baseball

On April 17, 2007, Alex Rodriguez hits his eighth homer of the young season, in the Yankees’ 12th game. He becomes just the third player to hit eight homers in the first 12 games or less, joining Mike Schmidt (1976) and Luis Gonzalez (2001).

Detroit’s Chris Shelton and St. Louis’ Albert Pujols hit their major league-leading ninth home runs, joining Mike Schmidt (1976), Larry Walker (1997) and Luis Gonzalez (2001) as the only players in major league history with at least nine home runs in their team’s first 13 games. Pujols also ties a major league record by homering in four consecutive at-bats when he connects in the 1st inning in St. Louis’ 2 – 1 win at Pittsburgh.

ByBaseball

Detroit’s Chris Shelton and St. Louis’ Albert Pujols hit their major league-leading ninth home runs, joining Mike Schmidt (1976), Larry Walker (1997) and Luis Gonzalez (2001) as the only players in major league history with at least nine home runs in their team’s first 13 games. Pujols also ties a major league record by homering in four consecutive at-bats when he connects in the 1st inning in St. Louis’ 2 – 1 win at Pittsburgh.

At Shea Stadium, the Mets continue their strong start to the season with a 4 – 3 victory over Atlanta as Pedro Martinez collects his 200th win with relief help from Duaner Sanchez and Billy Wagner. Martinez, from the Dominican Republic, improves his record to 200-84 and joins Dennis Martinez of Nicaragua (245-193), Dominican Juan Marichal (243-142) and CubanLuis Tiant (229-172), as the only Hispanic American pitchers to reach the 200-win major league mark.

ByBaseball

At Shea Stadium, the Mets continue their strong start to the season with a 4 – 3 victory over Atlanta as Pedro Martinez collects his 200th win with relief help from Duaner Sanchez and Billy Wagner. Martinez, from the Dominican Republic, improves his record to 200-84 and joins Dennis Martinez of Nicaragua (245-193), Dominican Juan Marichal (243-142) and CubanLuis Tiant (229-172), as the only Hispanic American pitchers to reach the 200-win major league mark.

In the bottom ninth inning, Mark Loretta hits a two-out, two-run home run over the left-field wall, giving the Red Sox a dramatic 7-6 victory over the Mariners at Fenway Park on Patriots’ Day. The only other player to end a game with a homer on Boston’s special day of celebration is Frank Malzone, who gave the team a 5-4 walk-off victory over the Yankees in 1959, the year the New England baseball tradition began. (Ed. Note: Mark H., a leading denizen of Red Sox Nation, inspired this entry. – LP)

ByTom

In the bottom ninth inning, Mark Loretta hits a two-out, two-run home run over the left-field wall, giving the Red Sox a dramatic 7-6 victory over the Mariners at Fenway Park on Patriots’ Day. The only other player to end a game with a homer on Boston’s special day of celebration is Frank Malzone, who gave the team a 5-4 walk-off victory over the Yankees in 1959, the year the New England baseball tradition began. (Ed. Note: Mark H., a leading denizen of Red Sox Nation, inspired this entry. – LP)

Barry Bonds becomes the 17th major leaguer, as well as the fourth Giant, to join the 500 home run club. Bonds’ two-run, 8th-inning homer off Terry Adams goes into San Francisco Bay to lead the Giants over the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3 – 2. Bonds is joined at home plate by two other members of the elite fraternity, Willie Mays (660) and Willie McCovey (521), for a brief ceremony.

ByBaseball

Barry Bonds becomes the 17th major leaguer, as well as the fourth Giant, to join the 500 home run club. Bonds’ two-run, 8th-inning homer off Terry Adams goes into San Francisco Bay to lead the Giants over the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3 – 2. Bonds is joined at home plate by two other members of the elite fraternity, Willie Mays (660) and Willie McCovey (521), for a brief ceremony.