Cleveland Indians’ Lonnie Chisenhall joins elite group
Last night, Cleveland Indians third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall had a game for the ages. In a 17-7 thumping of the Texas Rangers, Chisenhall went 5-for-5 with three home runs and 9 RBI.
Who saw this coming?
More importantly, the Tribe’s ninth win in its last 10 knocked another game off the Detroit Tigers’ division lead. Cleveland is now only two games behind in the AL Central.
MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian notes that the type of offensive performance from Chisenhall has occurred on only three other times within the past 100 years. That occurrence: a game with at least five hits, three home runs, and 9 RBI. Here’s the previous three:
1. July 6, 1949 – Walker Cooper, Cincinnati Reds
On a Wednesday at Crosley Field, Cooper, a catcher acquired in a mid-season deal from the New York Giants, goes 6-for-7. The Reds rout the Chicago Cubs by a final score of 23-4.
1st inning: single
2nd inning: single, RBI
3rd inning: home run, 3 RBI
4th inning: single
6th inning: home run, 3 RBI
7th inning: home run, 3 RBI
8th inning: groundout
6-for-7, 3 HR, 10 RBI
And get this. the time of the game was only 2 hours and 45 minutes.
2. August 31, 1950 – Gil Hodges, Brooklyn Dodgers
An Ebbets Field crowd of 14,226 would witness Hodges leading the Dodgers to a 19-3 drubbing over the Boston Braves. Oh, and Warren Spahn started this game.
2nd inning: home run, 2 RBI
3rd inning: home run, 3 RBI
4th inning: groundout
6th inning: home run, 2 RBI
7th inning: single
8th inning: home run, 2 RBI
That’s 5-for-6, 4 HR and 9 RBI.
After this game, Hodges raised his batting average to .300. In this game, both Jackie Robinson and Duke Snider were each 1-for-5. The Dodgers scored 19 runs and that duo combined for only two hits.
3. June 18, 1975 – Fred Lynn, Boston Red Sox
The AL Rookie of the Year and MVP was spectacular during the ’75 season. A Wednesday night affair at Tiger Stadium saw the Sawx take down the Tigers, 15-1. Lynn provided the bulk of the offense.
1st inning: home run, 2 RBI
2nd inning: home run, 3 RBI
3rd inning: triple, 2 RBI
5th inning: lineout
8th inning: single
9th inning: home run, 3 RBI
Lynn goes 5-for-6 with three homers and 10 RBI.
Now add June 9, 2014 – Lonnie Chisenhall, Cleveland Indians
Globe Life Park in Arlington is the setting for Chisenhall’s historic performance.
1st inning: single, RBI
2nd inning: home run, 2 RBI
4th inning: home run, 2 RBI
6th inning: double, RBI
8th inning: home run, 3 RBI
And Chisenhall has something on the other three. He didn’t record an out.