September 12 2021 Los Angeles Dodgers Max Scherzer Nearly throws perfect game (8 IP, 1 hit, no walks). Becomes 19th pitcher to reach 3,000 strikeouts, Ties Dodgers great Sandy Koufax (and Chris Sale) with a record 3rd immaculate inning.
2018 – A couple of pitchers take no-hit bids deep into their respective starts today. For the Rays, Blake Snell doesn’t allow the Indians a hit until the 7th until José Ramírez hits his 38th homer, a solo shot, but comes on top, 3 – 1, for his 19th win. Minnesota’s Jake Odorizzi does even better, getting through 7 1/3 inning before Greg Bird of the Yankees laces a run-scoring double. He is also a 3 – 1 winner.
The Twins set a Target Field record for most homers in a game in the eight-year old ballpark, going deep seven times in the team’s 16-0 pounding of the Padres. The septet of round-trippers blasted by Brian Dozier, Jorge Polanco, Jason Castro (2), Eddie Rosario, Eduardo Escobar, and Kennys Vargas marks the first time in history that a team hits a home run in each of the first seven innings.
2017 – The Indians tie the American League record for consecutive victories when they defeat Detroit, 2 – 0, for their 20th straight win. The record had been set by the 2002 Oakland Athletics in the season depicted in the book and movie Moneyball. Corey Kluber pitches a five-hit shutout to lead Cleveland while Francisco Lindor hits a lead-off homer off Matt Boyd in the 1st.
The Twins set a Target Field record for most homers in a game in the eight-year old ballpark, going deep seven times in the team’s 16-0 pounding of the Padres. The septet of round-trippers blasted by Brian Dozier, Jorge Polanco, Jason Castro (2), Eddie Rosario, Eduardo Escobar, and Kennys Vargas marks the first time in history that a team hits a home run in each of the first seven innings.
2016 – The major league ERA leader, Kyle Hendricks of the Cubs, takes a no-hit bid into the 9th inning in a start against the Cardinals, but Jeremy Hazelbaker leads off the frame with his 12th homer to break it up. Still, Hendricks records his 15th win, 4 – 1, and lowers his ERA to 2.03 as the Cubs’ magic number to clinch the NL Central is down to three.
The Blue Jays sweep a doubleheader against the Yankees at New Yankee Stadium to increase their lead in the AL East to 4 1/2 games. In the first game, seven homers are hit, including a pair by Jose Bautista, but the game is decided in the 11th inning when Toronto scores four runs on only one hit as Bryan Mitchell and Chasen Shreve combine for five walks and a hit batsman to win, 9 – 5. In the nitecap, New York starter Ivan Nova can’t get out of the 2nd inning and the Blue Jays prevail, 10 – 7, after a lengthy rain delay. Marcus Stroman is the winner in his first game since suffering a knee injury in spring training. For the Yankees, Brett Gardner hits three homers in the twinbill, including a pair of three-run shots in the second game, but it’s all for naught.
David Ortiz of the Red Sox becomes the 27th member of the 500 home run club by going deep twice, both times off Matt Moore, in a 10 – 4 win over the Rays.
Atlanta loses its 11th consecutive home game, dropping a 6-4 decision to the Mets at Turner Field. The defeat matches a franchise mark established in 1931, when the team played at Braves Field in Boston.
The Orioles move closer to clinching the AL East title with a doubleheader sweep of the Yankees, 2 – 1 and 5 – 0. But they also get bad news as slugger Chris Davis is handed a 25-game suspension for testing positive for amphetamines.