Celebrating his 29th birthday by hitting three homers in Boston’s 22-4 rout of the Devil Rays, Nomar Garciaparra ties the major league record, becoming the 26th player to hit five home runs in two games. It was the Red Sox shortstop’s second three-homer game, having accomplished the feat against the Mariners on May 10, 1999….
An ailing Pedro Martinez, with both starters ineffective in the decisive Game 5 of the ALCS and the score tied at 8-8 in the fourth, enters the game and doesn’t yield another hit to the Indians for the next six innings. Troy O’Leary collects a grand slam and a three-run home run, both following an intentional pass to Nomar Garciaparra, contributing to the Red Sox’ 12-8 victory at Cleveland’s Jacobs Field.
Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa is an easy winner in the National League MVP Award balloting over Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals, creating an historic Hispanic American sweep of the MVP awards with Texas Rangers OF Juan Gonzalez winning the award in the American League this season. Sosa received 30 of 32 first-place votes after leading the Cubs to a wild card spot in the playoffs.
Tom Gordon sets a major league record for the most consecutive saves when collects his 42nd in the Red Sox’s 9-6 win over the Orioles. ‘Flash’ pitches a perfect ninth inning, striking out the three batters he faces.
Nomar Garciaparra hits a ninth-inning grand slam, giving the Red Sox a 7-3 walk-off win over the Mariners at Fenway Park. The 25 year-old shortstop becomes one of only five players to hit 30 homers in each of his first two seasons, joining Rudy York (1937-38 Tigers), Ron Kittle (1983-84 White Sox), Jose Canseco (1986-87 A’s), and Mark McGwire (1987-88 A’s).
Boston loses to the Yankees, 8 – 6, despite two RBIs for Nomar Garciaparra. The ribbies give Garciaparra 87 on the year, for a new major league record for leadoff men. Harvey Kuenn held the old mark with 85 in 1956 for Detroit.
1997 – Boston’s Nomar Garciaparra hits in his 20th straight game, tying Fred Lynn’s Boston rookie record. Boston wins, 10 – 5, sweeping four from the Twins. Minnesota has lost nine straight,
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