Article:Home Runs of May 2, 2008

{|!Batter!Team (B)!Inning!Pitcher!Team (P)!Situation |- |Chase Utley (12) |Phillies |1st |Pat Misch (3) |Giants |1 on, 1 out, 0-0 |- |Pedro Feliz (4) |Phillies |4th |Pat Misch (4) |Giants |1 on, 0 out, 2-1 |- |Aaron Rowand (3) |Giants |10th |J.C. Romero (1) |Phillies |0 on, 0 out, 4-4 |- |Pat Burrell (9) |Phillies |10th (GW) |Brian Wilson (1) |Giants |1 on, 2 out, 4-5 |- |Brandon Moss (2) |Red Sox |4th |Edwin Jackson (3) |Rays |0 on, 2 out, 1-0 |- |Dan Uggla (5) |Marlins |2nd |Justin Germano (4) |Padres |0 on, 1 out, 1-0 |Dan Uggla (6) |Marlins |6th |Justin Germano (5) |Padres |2 on, 2 out, 2-1 |- |Luis Gonzalez (3) |Marlins |6th |Justin Germano (6) |Padres |0 on, 2 out, 5-1 |- |Khalil Greene (1) |Padres |7th |Mark Hendrickson (3) |Marlins |1 on, 0 out, 1-6 |- |Brian McCann (6) |Braves |4th |Edinson Volquez (1) |Reds |1 on, 1 out, 0-0 |- |Jose Bautista (2) |Pirates |3rd |John Lannan (3) |Nationals |2 on, 1 out, 3-0 |- |Jose Bautista (3) |Pirates |5th |- |Michael O'Connor (1) |Nationals |0 on, 1 out, 7-4 |- |Ryan Braun (5) |Brewers |1st |Roy Oswalt (8) |Astros |1 on, 1 out, 0-0 |- |Mike Cameron (1) |Brewers |5th |Roy Oswalt (9) |Astros |0 on, 0 out, 2-0 |- |Hunter Pence (2) |Astros |5th |Carlos Villanueva (5) |Brewers |1 on, 0 out, 0-4 |- |Miguel Tejada (5) |Astros |6th |Carlos Villanueva (6) |Brewers |1 on, 0 out, 2-4 |- |Lance Berkman (9) |Astros |6th |Carlos Villanueva (7) |Brewers |0 on, 0 out, 4-4 |- |Carlos Lee (7) |Astros |6th |Carlos Villanueva (8) |Brewers |0 on, 0 out, 5-4 |- |Hunter Pence (3) |Astros |7th |David Riske (1) |Brewers |0 on, 1 out, 6-4 |- |Magglio Ordonez (6) |Tigers |2nd |Livan Hernandez (7) |Twins |0 on, 0 out, 0-1 |- |Brendan Harris (2) |Twins |7th |Aquilino Lopez (1) |Tigers |0 on, 1 out, 4-1 |- |Alfonso Soriano(3) |Cubs |9th |Jason Isringhausen (2) |Cardinals |1 on, 1 out, 1-3 |- |Skip Schumaker (2) |Cardinals |11th (GW) |Chad Fox (1) |Cubs |1 on, 1 out, 3-3 |- |Todd Helton (3) |Rockies |3rd |Brad Penny (3) |Dodgers |0 on, 2 out, 2-0 |- |Rafael Furcal (4) |Dodgers |6th |Josh Newman (1) |Rockies |2 on, 2 out, 4-3 |- |Ryan Church (4) |Mets |4th |Micah Owings (5) |Diamondbacks |0 on, 2 out, 4-2 |- |David Wright (5) |Mets |6th |Micah Owings (6) |Diamondbacks |1 on, 2 out, 5-2 |- |Nick Markakis (5) |Orioles |1st |Jered Weaver (5) |Angels |0 on, 1 out, 0-1 |- |Jack Cust (3) |Athletics |4th |Vincente Padilla (6) |Rangers |0 on, 1 out, 0-2 |}

''For the people who have not been introduced to the "Home Runs of the Day" yet, let me just clarify a couple of things: * The "situation part" (the part that states the score) is the score BEFORE the home run is it. ** And, on a second note, the first part of the score is the score of the home run hitter's team. The second number represents the opponent's team.''

A Phenominal Finale in Philly
For the first time since last season, Aaron Rowand was back at Citizen Banks Park, as the San Francisco Giants took on the Philadelphia Phillies in a battle. This matchup was quite interesting for several reasons. For one, it was the first time Rowand was back in Philly. He also got a standing ovation in his first at-bat from the fans, as they appreciated what he had done for Philadelphia from 2006 to 2007.

"This is a special place, and it's definitely, definitely a special group of guys over there," Rowand said about the Phillies. "I had and still do have a lot of really close friends over there. I've had a lot of special moments in this place, and I shared with a special group of guys. I won't forget them. I can't forget them."

Not only was it Rowand's first time back in Philadelphia, but the game itself was a battle. The team who already led the league in home runs added three more homers, giving the Phillies 44 so far this season. Chase Utley hit his 12th home run on May 2nd, putting him 3 home runs ahead of any other Major League player so far, and also giving the Phillies an early 2-0 lead in the first. Pedro Feliz would eventually hit his 4th home run of the season as well, giving the Phils a 4-1 lead by the end of the 4th. Kyle Kendrick pitched well until the 7th inning, when the Giants were back in the game with 4-4 tie.

With the score being tied in the top of the 10th inning, Aaron Rowand showed Philly why they miss him so much. He hit a deep fly ball off of J.C. Romero over the left center field wall for a solo shot, making it 5-4 in favor of the Giants. It was Romero's first run surrendered of the season, first home run surrendered since July 13th of last season, and ended a 12 2/3 scoreless inning streak. With the fans either on their feet or on the edges of their seats in the bottom of the tenth, a man on first, and a full count, Pat Burrell hit a rope over fireballer Brian Wilson the left field wall to send the home crowd happy. His walkoff homer, his ninth homer of the season, also tied Lance Berkman for second place in the home run category.

"I was just hoping to see the ball," Burrell said after the game after hitting the 97 mile-per-hour fastball for the win.

This was definitely a game to remember, regardless of whether you think of it as the first time Aaron Rowand was back as in Philly who came up in a big way, or as the game where Pat Burrell crushed a ball for a walk-off win. It was also their 9th come-from-behind win of the season; last season they had 48.

Back-Back-Back... GONE!
11 runs scored in a game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Houston Astros. 10 of them were from the 7 homers hit by the teams combined. Baseballs were crushed left and right, but the one that probably meant the most to a little 8-year-old boy with muscular dystrophy named Jason Scott was hit hit by Miguel Tejada. Not only did Tejada's two-run-homer tie the game 4-4, but it was a home run that was promised to be hit personally for Scott, as the Astro lived up to his word. This homer was also the first jack of a back-to-back-to-back home run compliation; the other two [consecuitive] homers were hit by Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee. It was only the fifth time in franchise history Houston has hit 3 home runs, with last time coming on August 31, 2004, when Lance Berkman joined Carlos Beltran and Jeff Bagwell.

"I was so excited," Tejada said after the game. "I was excited when I hit the home run. I know it's hard to promise someone a home run and then hit it. Today, when I went to lunch with this kid, I wanted him to be happy."

Other than those 3 consecutive homers by the heart of the lineup, two more home runs were hit: both of them were hit by Major League sophomore Hunter Pence. It was his second multihomer game of his career, the first one coming on August 31st of last season.

With Tejada and his teammates hitting five homers on the night, Citgo donated $55,000 to the Muscular Dystrophy Association for every homer the Astros hit plus the win ($10,000 for each home run, and $5,000 for the Astros' victory). What a way to come back from a 4-0 deficit.

Image:1211402128 Ryan Braun.jpg|250px|center|thumb|Although Ryan Braun hit a two run homer, and the Brewers with an early lead, the Astros battled back with 7 straight runs to win the game.]] On a side note, Mike Cameron's solo homer was during the fourth game he played as a Brewer. Ryan Braun also hit a two run home run, making his home run total 5 so far this season.

Homer of the Day (May 1, 2008)
And the Homer of the Day for April 30, 2008 goes to...



Many people found this quite shocking once they found out: Cleveland Indians' Paul Byrd was involved in a pitching duel with Seattle Mariners' Miguel Batista. It was a pretty even matchup, as both pitchers surrendered only 4 hits. The ball was in the hands on Rafael Betancourt, a once reliable setup man less than a year ago. "Surprisingly", he surrendered the tying run, as Ichiro Suzuki scored by hitting a single, advancing to second on a wild pitch, stealing third base, and scoring via error by third baseman Casey Blake.

The score was tied at 1 by the end of the ninth inning, which meant that they had to move on to extra innings. This is where Richie Sexson comes in. In an attempt to be the hero of the day when Masahide Kobayashi was on the mound for the 13th time in his Major League career, Sexson hit a solo homer on an 83 mile/hour fastball. The first pitch of the 10th inning quickly turned the game around, and the Mariners took the lead for the first time in the game. However, the Mariners were not able to secure the victory. As "surprising" as it is, J.J. Putz blew his second save already, which is equivalent to the amount of blown saves he had all of last season. He "surprisingly" has an ERA of 9.00, as of May 2nd. The Mariners gave up another run in the 11th inning to call it a game, as the Indians defeated the Mariners 3-2 in what was a pretty exciting game. Even though Sexson was on the losing side of the game, his home run was still key: it gave the Mariners one more chance to bat.

Others who received votes: Ramon Vazquez of the Texas Rangers (1)

On Another Matter:
Thank you so much, fellow AGMers, for waiting so patiently for this article. My AP exams are over (finally), and I have one week of school left starting today. As always, I thank you guys for your support. Hopefully, I'll be able to catch up before the season ends (don't worry... I'm being sarcastic).

Thanks to everyone who has been voting, especially those who have since the very beginning (you know who you are). Like I said, the more votes we have in these articles, the better. It makes it more interesting, and makes me feel better when I post these articles.