At Shea Stadium, the Cubs lose their 13th consecutive game to match the longest losing streak in the franchise’s 122-year history. Reliever Turk Wendell, wearing #13, is tagged with the loss when Chicago is defeated by New York, 6-3.
On April 19, 1997, a major league game is played in Hawaii for the first time. The St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres play a doubleheader at Aloha Stadium, with the Cardinals winning both games, 1-0 and 2-1.
1996 – Houston batters Cincinnati, 13-5, on 18 hits. Sean Berry has three hits and five RBIs. Derek Bell has four hits while four other Astros enjoy multi-hit evenings.
1996 – Juan Gonzalez hits a home run and drives in six runs as Texas beats Baltimore, 26 – 7. Texas scores 16 runs in the 8th inning – one short of the modern major league mark – and scores the most runs by an American League team in 41 years. Jesse Orosco’s ERA rises from an ugly 9.82 to an almost unfathomable 27.00. Orosco is relieved by infielder Manny Alexander, who gets the last two outs but walks off the mound with a 67.50 ERA.
1987 – Rob Deer hits a three-run home run to tie the score and Dale Sveum wins the game with a two-run shot as the Milwaukee Brewers rally for five runs in the 9th inning to beat the Texas Rangers, 6 – 4, and set an American League record with their 12th straight victory to start the season.
Thanks to Rob Deer’s three-run homer to tie the score and Dale Sveum’s two-run winning shot, the Brewers rallied for five runs in the ninth inning, beating the Rangers, 6-4. The Milwaukee victory sets an American League record as they win their 12th straight game to start the season.
1986 – Oakland Athletics pitcher Jose Rijo sets a club record with 16 strikeouts in eight innings as Oakland beats the Seattle Mariners, 7 – 2. The two clubs combine for 30 strikeouts overall, setting the modern major league record for a nine-inning game.
On April 19, 1984, the Detroit Tigers suffer their first loss of the season after nine consecutive wins. The Tigers fall to the Kansas City Royals and Bret Saberhagen, who earns his first major league victory.
1983 – Pinch-hitter Harry Spilman drills a three-run ninth-inning homer off Tom Hume to stun Cincinnati, 6-5. Shortstop Dickie Thon has four hits, including a home run. Bill Dawley earns his second win in relief. The Astros’ day does not start well as catcher John Mizerock suffers three passed balls in the first inning while the Reds jump on Joe Niekro for four runs.
On April 19, 1981, the Oakland Athletics set a modern day record for the most consecutive wins to start a season. Billy Martin’s A’s defeat the Seattle Mariners, 6-1, giving them their 11th straight victory. The Atlanta Braves will surpass the mark a year later by opening the season with 13 consecutive wins.
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