In Grand Style--Twice!

By JASON REID

April 24, 1999 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

Fans expect grand home runs from the St. Louis Cardinals because of Mark McGwire.

The Cardinals hit four homers Friday night against the Dodgers--but McGwire didn’t do the blasting this time.

St. Louis third baseman Fernando Tatis became the first player in major league history to hit two grand slams in an inning, smashing two against pitcher Chan Ho Park in an 11-run third inning that highlighted the Cardinals’ 12-5 victory before a stunned crowd of 46,687 at Dodger Stadium.

Dodger Manager Davey Johnson wasn’t around to see Tatis’ second slam, getting ejected by home plate umpire Greg Bonin for arguing a call at the plate in the inning. But the frustrated manager had already seen more than he cared to from his team at that point.

Tatis, the Cardinal cleanup batter, shocked the Dodgers with two swings of his bat, hitting his fifth and sixth homers and becoming only the 10th player in baseball history to hit two slams in a game. Tatis’ first slam of his career gave St. Louis a 4-2 lead, stirring curiosity in the stands about the second-year player.

His second chased Park (1-2) after another miserable outing and capped the prolific inning for the delighted Cardinals, who sent 14 batters to the plate. They understandably celebrated Tatis’ feat, swarming the 24-year-old native of the Dominican Republic as he returned triumphantly to the visiting dugout for the second time in the third.

“That’s a good job on his part,” Johnson said of Tatis. “He’s an aggressive young hitter.”

Tatis wasn’t the only player powering the Cardinals against the suddenly struggling Dodgers. Rookie J.D. Drew and Eli Marrero also homered, and starter Jose Jimenez (2-0) threw seven solid innings, contributing to the Dodgers’ problems in their eighth loss in 11 games.

The Dodgers committed three errors and generally continued to play as poorly as they have since they opened the season 5-1. Their strong start seems long ago after the Dodgers dropped a game under .500 at 8-9.

“[Park] missed a couple of times down and away,” Johnson said, “and he hung a fastball over the plate and that’s going to get hit.

“That was ugly.”

McGwire established a new single-season homer record last season by hitting 70, but he singled only once in five at-bats Friday. For at least another game, the Southland native continued his homerless streak at Dodger Stadium.

Of course, with Tatis’ show, the fans probably didn’t feel cheated.

The Cardinals acquired Tatis in a five-player deal last July that sent shortstop Royce Clayton and pitcher Todd Stottlemyre to the Texas Rangers. Some scouts consider Tatis a rising star, and he definitely looked the part in the third against Park.

Tatis’ multiple slams marked only the second time a National League player has hit two in a game. Chris Hoiles was the last player two hit two slams in either league, accomplishing it on Aug. 14 last season for Baltimore against the Cleveland Indians at Jacobs Field.

Tatis also set a major league record with eight runs batted in during the inning. Many players have driven in six runs in an inning, the last being Matt Williams with Cleveland in 1997 against the Angels.

Tatis was the fourth batter in the third. With the bases loaded, Tatis crushed a 2-and-0 pitch from Park into the Dodger bullpen.

The ball traveled approximately 420 feet, signaling good things to come for Tatis and the Cardinals. And more disappointment for the Dodgers.

“Chan Ho pitched like he was pitching defensively,” Johnson said. “That was a different pitcher than I saw in spring training. He wasn’t going after guys. You see it happen. I just didn’t think I would see it happen to him.”

St. Louis took a 6-2 lead in the inning when first baseman Eric Karros was charged with a throwing error on a grounder by Darren Bragg, enabling Placido Polanco to score from third. Karros’ throw forced catcher Todd Hundley to come off the plate, but Johnson argued that Hundley’s toe stayed on the plate long enough to record the out.

As it turned out, Johnson could have saved the energy.

On a full count against Park three batters later, Tatis hit his second slam into the pavilion seats in left-center.

Park gave up eight hits and 11 runs--six earned--in only 2 2/3 innings.

Park, who has struggled in three of four starts this season, became only the second pitcher two give up two grand slams in an inning.

On Aug. 16, 1890, Bill Phillips of the Pittsburgh Pirates gave up fifth-inning slams to Malachi Kittredge and Tommy Bruns of the Chicago Cubs.

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HISTORY IN THE MAKING

THE THIRD INNING

1. Darren Bragg: Single

2. Edgar Renteria: Hit by pitch

3. Mark McGwire: Single

4. Fernando Tatis: Grand slam