Sheffield Has an Inning to Remember

L.A. Times Archives

July 14, 1997 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

Gary Sheffield was so wrapped up playing well, he didn’t even know he hit two homers in one inning until somebody told him.

Sheffield became the first Florida Marlin to hit two home runs in an inning during the Marlins’ 9-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Miami.

“I feel better, my concentration is now where it’s supposed to be,” Sheffield said. “The thing about it is, I was so focused today I didn’t even know it was the same inning. My teammates told me.”

Philadelphia lost for the 14th time in 16 games and the 32nd time in 37, dropping to a major-league worst 25-63.

“I felt like Sheffield was getting closer. I kind of smelled it, but I’m not that smart,” Marlin Manager Jim Leyland said. “Hopefully, now he won’t have a nagging injury.”

With the Phillies leading, 1-0, in the fourth, Sheffield hit a solo home run off Mark Leiter (4-10). He capped the eight-run inning with a three-run home run off Reggie Harris, raising his team-leading total to 11.

It was 37th time in major league history a player homered twice in an inning, the first since Montreal’s Mike Lansing on May 7.

“Not many guys can do what he did on that second swing,” Leyland said. “Bonds, Griffey . . . there’s not many.”

Sheffield pulled up in the sixth after scoring on a triple by Moises Alou that made it 9-1. As he was rounding second base, Sheffield grabbed at his left hamstring, limped home and left the game. The initial diagnosis was a mild strain, and Sheffield was listed as day-to-day.

After the game, Sheffield said he doesn’t think he’ll miss more than one or two games. He said he slowed up so he wouldn’t do more damage.

New York 7, Atlanta 6--Alex Ochoa hit a pinch-hit home run with two outs in the 10th inning as the Mets overcame a six-run deficit at Atlanta.

It was the Mets’ third comeback victory in the four-game set at Atlanta and New York’s sixth victory in seven games.

Ochoa’s second home run of the season came on a 2-and-0 pitch off Mike Bielecki (3-6) and carried into the left-field seats. It was the Mets’ major league-leading seventh pinch-hit home run.

Greg McMichael (6-6) pitched two hitless innings for the victory, and John Franco worked the 10th for his 23rd save.

Butch Huskey hit a two-run home run in the second inning and a three-run home run in the fourth--his 12th of the season. It was the second two-homer game of his career, giving Huskey a career-high five RBIs.

Montreal 2, Cincinnati 0--Pedro Martinez pitched a one-hitter on one of Cincinnati’s hottest days and Mike Lansing tripled twice before leaving because of heat exhaustion.

The Expos won two games of the three-game series by stifling the Red offense in sweltering conditions. The game-time temperature was 87 degrees and the artificial turf made it well over 100 degrees on the field.

Lansing went three for three with a single and two triples off Mike Morgan (3-6), making his first appearance since his clash with Reds Manager Ray Knight last week. Lansing tripled and scored on F.P. Santangelo’s grounder in the fourth, then tripled home Mark Grudzielanek in the fifth for a 2-0 lead.

Lansing came out of the game after the fifth inning.

Martinez (11-4) seemed to have no problems as he pitched his league-leading eighth complete game and his third shutout in 17 starts.

St. Louis 11, Chicago 5--Gary Gaetti homered for the fourth time in four days--one of four St. Louis home runs--and the Cardinals used 20 hits to win at Chicago.

Gaetti’s three-run drive off Steve Trachsel (4-7) capped a five-run fifth inning. It was his 10th of the season and his sixth homer in eight career games at Wrigley Field, where he also has 10 RBIs in his second NL season.

Ray Lankford hit his 19th home run to give the Cardinals a seven-run cushion in the eighth, a three-run shot off Ramon Tatis.

Tatis then hit Gaetti with a pitch and was warned by plate umpire Rich Rieker before he was removed from the game by Chicago Manager Jim Riggleman. Kevin Orie homered in the ninth.

Gaetti went three for four and finished the series nine for 17.

Phil Plantier started the fifth with his first home run, breaking a 1-1 tie.

Pittsburgh 5, Houston 3--Kevin Polcovich had key hits in consecutive two-run innings and the Pirates, who had scored only once previously in the four games series, managed to split the series at Pittsburgh.

The Pirates regained a one-game lead in the NL Central despite being outscored, 20-8.

Houston won the first two games by a combined 17-0, then scored in only one of the final 19 innings--a three-run sixth against Jon Lieber.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: Gary Sheffield

Team: Florida

Performance: 2 for 4, two home runs, 4 RBIs, 3 runs

Team’s Result: Win

Player: Butch Huskey

Team: New York

Performance: 3 for 4, two home runs, 5 RBIs, 2 runs