Bagwell’s Downtown Spree Is on South Side of Chicago

Chicago is Jeff Bagwell’s kind of town, at least when it comes to hitting home runs.

Bagwell hit three in a game for the second time this season in the Windy City, driving in six runs Wednesday night as the Houston Astros beat the White Sox, 13-4, at Comiskey Park.

Bagwell has three three-homer games in his career, and became the 12th major leaguer to have a pair of three-homer games in a season. His other big game this year occurred at Wrigley Field on April 12 when he had three homers and six RBIs against the Cubs.

“It’s just a strange coincidence,” Bagwell said.

The three-homer display continued a hot month for Bagwell, who has a nine-game hitting streak and is batting .441 (15 for 34) in June with six homers and 13 RBIs.

“My mechanics are kind of a funny deal,” he said. “My swing is pretty unorthodox. When it’s off, I’m not hitting any home runs. When my mechanics are right, I’ve got a chance.”

Bagwell hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning, a solo shot in the eighth and a two-run drive in the ninth. He is second in the National League with 20 home runs, one behind the Cubs’ Sammy Sosa. Bagwell has 17 multihomer games in his career.

“After my first three at-bats, if you would’ve told me I’d just get a hit, I would’ve been surprised,” he said. “As long as you go up there hacking, you’ve got a chance.”

In 1994, Bagwell hit three home runs against the Dodgers. The previous player to have two three-homer games in a year was Mark McGwire, last season.