Jackson Resumes Home Run Pace With 4th in Row After 39 Days Off

It was a long time between swings, but Bo Jackson didn’t miss a beat.

The Kansas City slugger hit three consecutive home runs against the New York Yankees July 17, then fell trying to make a circus catch and dislocated his shoulder. He was on the disabled list for more than five weeks.

In his first swing since the injury, Jackson hit a 435-foot home run to left-center off Seattle’s Randy Johnson Sunday. Jackson became the 19th player to hit four consecutive home runs.

“That pitch, I saw it so good,” Jackson said. “I saw the seams.”

The two-run home run was his 20th. The streak ended when he flied out the next time up, but later he doubled and singled to help the Royals rout the Mariners, 8-2, at Kansas City.

The last player to hit four consecutive home runs, Larry Herndon of Detroit in 1982, also did it in two games. While Herndon’s were one day apart, Jackson’s were 39.

“He had an incredible day, not just the home run,” Manager John Wathan said. “Bo always seems to rise to the occasion.”