On This Date in Sports: September 18, 2006: Back to Back to Back to Back
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
With first place on the line, the Los Angeles Dodgers stage an incredible rally to beat the San Diego Padres 11-10 in ten innings. Down 9-5 in the ninth inning, the Dodgers get four consecutive home runs to tie the game, the last two coming against Trevor Hoffman. After the Padres scored a run in the tenth, the Dodgers win the game on a two-run walk-off by Nomar Garciaparra.
As the 2006 season was coming down the stretch, the National League Western Division, the San Diego Padres, and Los Angeles Dodgers were neck and neck in the battle for the division title. In the final game of a four-game wraparound series at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers had one last chance to help their own cause. The Padres and won 12 of 17 games, including two of the first three games in the weekend series to grab a half-game lead at 78-70.
Managed by Grady Little, the Dodgers at 78-71 sent Brad Penny to the mound while San Diego, managed by Bruce Bochy, had Jake Peavy looking to win the series. The Padres got off to a quick start as Mike Piazza doubled home Adrian Gonzalez in the first inning. San Diego got three more runs in the first, as Mike Cameron tripled in Piazza and Russell Branyan. Cameron would come into score on a single by Geoff Blum.
Brad Penny settled down and did not allow another run. The Dodgers meanwhile rallied to tie the game over the next three innings, as Jeff Kent doubled in Rafael Furcal in the first. In the second inning, Marlon Anderson took Jake Peavy downtown. Furcal would follow with a home run in the third, as Kent scored to tie the game on a double by J.D. Drew.
The game remained tied until the eighth inning when Josh Barfield laced a double off Jonathan Broxton to score Blum. Barfield would later score on a single by Todd Walker to give the Padres a 6-4 lead. Marlon Anderson led off the bottom of the eight with a triple and scored on a single by Wilson Betemit. However, the Dodgers stranded two runners in scoring position, as the trialed 6-5 entering the ninth inning. Seeking to add some insurance, the Padres took advantage of wildness from Takashi Saito, as Adrian Gonzalez scored on a wild pitch with the bases loaded. Josh Bard would later score on a Geoff Blum sac-fly, while Mike Cameron scored on a single by Josh Barfield.
With a 9-5 lead, the Padres had Jon Adkins on the mound to close the victory as it was not a save situation. Jeff Kent greeted Adkins with a leadoff homer. J.D. Drew followed with a homer of his own, as Trevor Hoffman came into what was not a save situation. Russell Martin greeted Hoffman with a home run, and suddenly it was a one-run game. Three batters and three homers and halted fans heading for the exits and brought life to Chavez Ravine. Marlon Anderson kept the momentum and tied the game with a fourth straight home run. It was the first time that a team had four consecutive home runs since the Minnesota Twins did in 1964 against the Kansas City Athletics.
Trevor Hoffman retired the next three batters as the game went into extra innings. With Aaron Sele on the mound for Los Angeles, the Padres regained the lead on a two-out single by Bard, which scored Adrian Gonzalez. Rudy Saenz came on to get the save for San Diego, now hold a 10-9 lead. However, Saenz found quick trouble with a walk to Kenny Lofton. With a 3-1 count, Saenz threw one fat pitch that Norman Garciaparra crushed to left field to win the game 11-10.
The Dodgers and Padres each finished with a record of 88-74. Since both teams were playoff-bound, the Padres won the division due to head-to-head play with the Dodgers, who took the Wild Card. The Dodgers were the fourth team to hit four straight home runs. Six teams have done it since, including the Chicago White Sox in 2020.
Four straight Home Runs
White Sox, Aug. 16, 2020
Yoán Moncada, Yasmani Grandal, José Abreu and Eloy Jiménez homer in the fifth inning against Cardinals.
Nationals, June 9, 2019
Howie Kendrick, Trea Turner, Adam Eaton, and Anthony Rendon homer in the eighth inning vs. Padres.
Nationals, July 27, 2017
Brian Goodwin, Wilmer Difo, Bryce Harper, and Ryan Zimmerman homer in the fourth inning vs. Brewers.
D-backs, Aug. 11, 2010
Adam Laroche, Miguel Montero, Mark Reynolds, and Stephen Drew homer in the fourth inning vs. Brewers.
White Sox, Aug. 14, 2008
Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramirez, and Juan Uribe homer in the sixth inning vs. Royals.
Red Sox, April 22, 2007
Manny Ramirez, J.D. Drew, Mike Lowell, and Jason Varitek homer in the third inning vs. Yankees.
Dodgers, Sept. 18, 2006
Jeff Kent, J.D. Drew, Russell Martin, and Marlon Anderson homered in the ninth inning vs. Padres.
Twins, May 2, 1964
Tony Oliva, Bob Allison, Jimmie Hall, and Harmon Killebrew in 11th inning vs. Athletics.
Indians, July 31, 1963
Woodie Held, Pedro Ramos, Tito Francona, and Larry Brown homered in the sixth inning of Game 2 of a doubleheader vs. Angels.
Braves, June 8, 1961
Eddie Mathews, Hank Aaron, Joe Adcock, and Frank Thomas homered in the seventh inning vs. Reds.