The Chicago Cubs stop their season-opening losing streak at 14 games, rallying in the 6th inning to beat the New York Mets, 4 – 3, in the second game of a doubleheader. The Mets won the opener 8 – 2. Chicago’s 0-14 start sets a National League record and is the second worst behind the 1988 Baltimore Orioles, who began 0-21.
Mark McGwire becomes the fourth major leaguer to hit a home run over the left field roof at Tiger Stadium. The Athletics first baseman joins Harmon Killebrew (1962), Frank Howard (1968), and Cecil Fielder (1990) as the only players to accomplish the feat.
1997 – Craig Biggio blasts two homers to topple Los Angeles, 3-1, at Dodger Stadium. His solo shot off Ismael Valdes stakes the Astros to an early lead but Raul Mondesi ties the game with a blast off Chris Holt. After Tim Bogar doubles, Biggio takes Tom Candiotti deep in the eighth for the game-winner.
Peter O’Malley donates the Brooklyn Dodgers’ 1955 World Championship banner to the borough in which it was won, saying, “The flag belongs in Brooklyn.”
The Pittsburgh Pirates release Tim Wakefield, who posted an 8-1 record in 1993 and was named the National League rookie pitcher of the year. The knuckleballer started the 1994 opener, but spent most of the season with the Buffalo Bisons of the International League, going 5-15, and was shelled in his only start this spring. Wakefield will be picked up by the Boston Red Sox and will revive his career there.
Relief pitcher Jeff Reardon announces his retirement. His 367 career saves rank him second on the all-time list.
1994 – A leadoff homer by Craig Biggio blossoms into a four-hit night as Houston trips the Cubs, 7-5. Jeff Bagwell drives in four runs. Tom Edens picks up the win in relief.
1990 – Brian Holman of the Seattle Mariners loses his bid for the major league’s 13th perfect game with two outs in the 9th inning on Ken Phelps’ pinch-hit home run in the Mariners’ 6 – 1 victory over the Oakland Athletics. Phelp’s homer run will be the final homerun in his career. Holman will strikeout Rickey Henderson for the final out.
On April 20, 1988, the Baltimore Orioles set a major league record by losing their 14th consecutive game to start the season. An 8-6 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers pushes the O’s past the 1904 Washington Senators and the 1920 Detroit Tigers for the worst start in big league history…
Claudell Washington hits the 10,000th home run in New York Yankees history in a 7 – 6 victory over the Twins at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. The historic home run comes off future hall of famer – Jeff Reardon in the top of the ninth inning in New York’s eventual extra-inning 7-6 victory over Minnesota at the Metrodome.
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