Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Teams That Hit Walk-Off Homers in Back-to-Back Games

UPDATE 7-31 10:47 p.m.: The Rangers did it again...again!!! Adrian Beltre just belted a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth to give Texas a 2-1 win over the Angels. The Rangers are now the fifth team to hit a game-ending homer in three straight games.*

* My Play Index search from this afternoon only goes back to 1945, but Elias reported tonight that it's the fifth time ever, so it hadn't happened pre-'45.


The Rangers did it again last night. After Geovany Soto hit a game-winning home run on Monday, they came back from 11-7 down in the eighth inning to beat the Angels on Leonys Martin's three-run blast in the bottom of the 10th.

A team has hit walk-off homers in back-to-back games 82 times (among the 3,195 walk-off home runs hit since 1945). Every team has done it at least once except for the Blue Jays, who have hit 62 game-ending dingers but none in consecutive games.

Here are all 82, listed by team:

Team First Batter Second Batter Opp Notes
Angels 8/18/1975 Leroy Stanton 8/19/1975 Mike Miley MIL Stanton 3RHR down 2 in 9th; Miley in 15th
Angels 8/29/1986 Dick Schofield 8/30/1986 Doug DeCinces DET Schofield GS down 3 2 outs in 9th; DeCinces 2RHR down 1 in 9th
Angels 5/29/2010 Kendrys Morales 5/30/2010 Howie Kendrick SEA Morales GS in 10th (broke leg jumping on plate); Kendrick 3RHR down 1 in 9th
Astros 6/28/2007 Carlos Lee 6/29/2007 Mark Loretta COL Lee GS down 1 in 11th; Loretta 2RHR down 1 in 9th; both off Brian Fuentes
Athletics 7/2/1955 Joe DeMaestri 7/3/1955 Vic Power DET DeMaestri in 11th; Power in 14th
Athletics 8/20/1968 Danny Cater 8/22/1968 Dick Green WSA/CAL 8/20 second game of DH, off day 8/21
Athletics 4/12/1978 Jeff Newman 4/13/1978 Gary Alexander SEA/CLE
Athletics 6/11/1980 Tony Armas 6/13/1980 Mickey Klutts BAL/NYY Armas GS in 14th; 6/12 off day, 6/13 first game of DH
Athletics 8/14/1981 Dwayne Murphy 8/15/1981 Mike Heath CAL Heath in 13th
Athletics 6/1/2004 Bobby Kielty 6/2/2004 Mark Kotsay CWS Kielty in 12th
Braves 7/20/1971 Hank Aaron 7/21/1971 Darrell Evans SD Evans in 11th, 7/21 first game of DH
Braves 5/19/1995 Dwight Smith 5/20/1995 Chipper Jones FLA Smith GS at 0-0 in 9th
Brewers 7/8/1974 Mike Hegan 7/9/1974 George Scott CWS Hegan 2RHR down 1 in 12th; both off Rich Gossage
Cardinals 6/4/2011 Albert Pujols 6/5/2011 Albert Pujols CHN both by Pujols; first in 12th, second in 10th
Cubs 5/1/1958 Johnny Goryl 5/2/1958 Walt Moryn MLN
Cubs 9/22/1959 George Altman 9/23/1959 Cal Neeman SF
Cubs 8/30/1960 Ernie Banks 8/31/1960 Bob Will CIN/MLN Will in 10th, 8/31 first game of DH
Cubs 4/14/1961 Sammy Taylor 4/15/1961 Al Heist MLN Taylor 2RHR down 1 in 9th; Heist GS
Cubs 5/28/1966 Ron Santo 5/29/1966 Ron Santo ATL both by Santo; first in 12th, second in 10th
Cubs 5/3/1974 Rick Monday 5/4/1974 Billy Williams CIN Monday 2RHR down 1 in 9th; Williams in 11th
Cubs 9/12/1998 Orlando Merced 9/13/1998 Mark Grace MIL Grace in 10th
D-Backs 5/10/1999 Jay Bell 5/11/1999 Luis Gonzalez MON Gonzalez in 10th
D-Backs 5/11/1999 Luis Gonzalez 5/12/1999 Matt Williams MON Third straight walk-off HR
D-Backs 7/26/2007 Eric Byrnes 7/27/2007 Tony Clark FLA/ATL Clark in 11th
Dodgers 4/20/1959 Charlie Neal 4/21/1959 Don Demeter SF Demeter in 11th
Dodgers 6/2/1961 Tommy Davis 6/3/1961 Daryl Spencer SF Davis GS in 10th
Dodgers 6/21/1974 Bill Buckner 6/22/1974 Joe Ferguson SF both in 10th, both off Elias Sosa
Dodgers 5/13/1981 Ron Cey 5/14/1981 Pedro Guerrero MON
Dodgers 4/5/1999 Raul Mondesi 4/6/1999 Gary Sheffield ARZ Mondesi in 11th, Sheffield in 10th
Giants 6/6/1947 Willard Marshall 6/9/1947 Walker Cooper STL/PIT Marshall in 11th
Giants 7/24/2003 Barry Bonds 7/25/2003 Pedro Feliz ARZ/SD
Giants 5/3/2013 Buster Posey 5/4/2013 Guillermo Quiroz LAD Quiroz in 10th
Indians 7/4/1962 Don Dillard 7/5/1962 Don Dillard DET both by Dillard, first a GS in 13th
Indians 8/30/1995 Albert Belle 8/31/1995 Albert Belle TOR both by Belle, first in 14th, second in 10th
Indians 8/23/2002 Josh Bard 8/24/2002 Karim Garcia SEA
Mariners 5/8/1981 Tom Paciorek 5/9/1981 Tom Paciorek NYY both by Paciorek, second a 3RHR down 2 in 9th
Mariners 8/15/1986 Alvin Davis 8/16/1986 Alvin Davis MIN both by Davis, both off Keith Atherton
Marlins 8/12/2003 Ramon Castro 8/13/2003 Mike Mordecai LAD Castro in 13th, Mordecai in 11th
Mets 5/12/1962 Hobie Landrith 5/12/1962 Gil Hodges MLN both games of a DH, Landrith 2RHR down 1 2 outs in 9th
Mets 5/5/1967 Jerry Buchek 5/9/1967 Tommy Davis HOU/CIN Davis in 11th
Mets 7/30/1996 Todd Hundley 7/31/1996 Chris Jones PIT Hundley in 12th, Jones 2RHR down 1 in 10th, 7/30 2nd game of DH
Mets 7/28/2001 Robin Ventura 7/29/2001 Mike Piazza PHI
Mets 5/7/2010 Rod Barajas 5/8/2010 Henry Blanco SF Blanco in 11th
Expos 6/21/1983 Andre Dawson 6/22/1983 Tim Raines PHI Dawson in 12th, Raines GS at 0-0
Orioles 7/27/1971 Brooks Robinson 7/28/1971 Frank Robinson OAK both off Rollie Fingers, second a 3RHR down 2 in 9th
Orioles 6/22/1979 Doug DeCinces 6/23/1979 Eddie Murray DET DeCinces 2RHR down 1 in 9th, Murray 3RHR down 1 in 9th
Orioles 9/19/1982 Rich Dauer 9/20/1982 John Lowenstein CLE/DET Dauer in 10th
Orioles 5/10/1985 Fred Lynn 5/11/1985 Fred Lynn MIN both by Lynn, second a 3RHR down 1 in 9th
Orioles 7/22/1998 Rafael Palmeiro 7/23/1998 Lenny Webster OAK both off Mike Fetters
Padres 4/13/1986 Marvell Wynne 4/14/1986 Bruce Bochy CIN/LAD Bochy in 11th
Phillies 9/13/1962 Johnny Callison 9/14/1962 Johnny Callison MLN/STL
Phillies 7/8/2010 Brian Schneider 7/9/2010 Ryan Howard CIN Schneider in 12th
Pirates 5/28/2004 Rob Mackowiak 5/28/2004 Craig Wilson CHN both games of a DH, Mackowiak GS, Wilson in 10th
Rangers 8/5/1978 John Lowenstein 8/6/1978 Gary Gray CLE Lowenstein 2RHR down 1 in 12th, Gray 2RHR down 1 in 9th
Rangers 10/2/1981 Mark Wagner 10/3/1981 Bob Johnson CAL Wagner in 10th
Rangers 7/29/2013 Geovany Soto 7/30/2013 Leonys Martin LAA Martin in 10th
Rays 5/19/2006 Aubrey Huff 5/20/2006 Russell Branyan FLA Huff in 10th, Branyan 2RHR down 1 in 9th
Red Sox 5/10/2005 Kevin Millar 5/11/2005 Jason Varitek OAK both off Octavio Dotel, both 2RHR down 1 in 9th
Reds 6/23/1953 Grady Hatton 6/24/1953 Gus Bell BKN Hatton 2RHR down 1 in 9th
Reds 5/27/1960 Ed Bailey 5/29/1960 Vada Pinson MLN Bailey GS
Reds 6/27/1975 Dan Driessen 6/28/1975 George Foster SD Driessen in 11th, Foster in 10th
Reds 5/5/2003 Aaron Boone 5/6/2003 Barry Larkin STL Larkin 2RHR down 1 in 9th
Rockies 7/6/2010 Seth Smith 7/7/2010 Chris Iannetta STL
Royals 4/10/2000 Johnny Damon 4/11/2000 Brian Johnson MIN/BAL Johnson in 12th
Royals 4/11/2000 Brian Johnson 4/12/2000 Rey Sanchez BAL Third straight walk-off HR, Sanchez 3RHR down 2 in 9th
Tigers 5/25/1970 Bill Freehan 5/26/1970 Willie Horton NYY
Tigers 5/14/1982 Kirk Gibson 5/15/1982 Lance Parrish MIN Gibson in 11th, Parrish in 10th
Tigers 6/20/1988 Tom Brookens 6/21/1988 Alan Trammell NYY both off Cecilio Guante, Brookens in 10th, Trammell GS down 3 2 outs in 9th
Tigers 5/19/1989 Lou Whitaker 5/20/1989 Alan Trammell KC
Tigers 9/17/1998 Damion Easley 9/18/1998 Tony Clark TOR/MIN Clark in 11th
Tigers 9/18/1998 Tony Clark 9/19/1998 Damion Easley MIN Third straight walk-off HR, Easley 2RHR down 1 in 10th
Tigers 6/26/2004 Eric Munson 6/27/2004 Carlos Pena ARZ Pena GS
Tigers 6/27/2004 Carlos Pena 6/29/2004 Dmitri Young ARZ/CLE Third straight walk-off HR, Young in 11th
Twins 8/6/1970 George Mitterwald 8/7/1970 Jim Holt CAL/OAK Mitterwald in 14th, Holt in 11th
White Sox 7/25/1967 J.C. Martin 7/25/1967 Ken Berry CLE both games of DH, Berry 2RHR down 1 in 16th
White Sox 4/23/2010 Andruw Jones 4/24/2010 Alex Rios SEA Rios 2RHR down 1 in 9th
Yankees 8/17/1976 Graig Nettles 8/18/1976 Roy White TEX
Yankees 8/30/1977 Mickey Rivers 8/31/1977 Graig Nettles SEA Rivers in 11th
Yankees 8/11/1980 Aurelio Rodriguez 8/12/1980 Ruppert Jones CWS Jones GS in 10th
Yankees 6/2/1981 Dave Revering 6/3/1981 Graig Nettles BAL Revering in 11th, Nettles in 11th
Yankees 9/8/1988 Gary Ward 9/9/1988 Claudell Washington DET Ward in 10th
Yankees 5/16/2009 Alex Rodriguez 5/17/2009 Johnny Damon MIN Rodriguez in 11th, Damon in 10th

I left comments on the right of most entries, noting things like grand slams, extra-inning homers and homers while trailing. Let's take a closer look at those that were extra special.


Same player hits walk-off homer in back-to-back games:


Batter Team First Second Opp Notes
Don Dillard Indians 7/4/1962 7/5/1962 DET first a GS in 13th
Ron Santo Cubs 5/28/1966 5/29/1966 ATL first in 12th, second in 10th
Tom Paciorek Mariners 5/8/1981 5/9/1981 NYY second a 3RHR down 2 in 9th
Alvin Davis Mariners 8/15/1986 8/16/1986 MIN both off Keith Atherton
Albert Belle Indians 8/30/1995 8/31/1995 TOR first in 14th, second in 10th
Albert Pujols Cardinals 6/4/2011 6/5/2011 CHN first in 12th, second in 10th

Same pitcher allows walk-off homer in back-to-back games:


Team Opp First Batter Second Batter Notes
Rollie Fingers OAK 7/27/1971 Brooks Robinson 7/28/1971 Frank Robinson second a 3RHR down 2 in 9th
Elias Sosa SF 6/21/1974 Bill Buckner 6/22/1974 Joe Ferguson both in 10th
Goose Gossage CWS 7/8/1974 Mike Hegan 7/9/1974 George Scott Hegan 2RHR down 1 in 12th
Keith Atherton MIN 8/15/1986 Alvin Davis 8/16/1986 Alvin Davis both by Davis
Cecilio Guante NYY 6/20/1988 Tom Brookens 6/21/1988 Alan Trammell Brookens in 10th, Trammell GS down 3 2 outs in 9th
Mike Fetters OAK 7/22/1998 Rafael Palmeiro 7/23/1998 Lenny Webster
Octavio Dotel OAK 5/10/2005 Kevin Millar 5/11/2005 Jason Varitek both 2RHR down 1 in 9th
Brian Fuentes COL 6/28/2007 Carlos Lee 6/29/2007 Mark Loretta Lee GS down 1 in 11th; Loretta 2RHR down 1 in 9th

***The Alvin Davis/Keith Atherton games mark the only time since at least 1945 that a player hit a walk-off homer off the same pitcher in consecutive games

Team hits walk-off homer in both ends of a doubleheader:


Team First Batter Second Batter Opp Notes
Mets 5/12/1962 Hobie Landrith 5/12/1962 Gil Hodges MLN Landrith 2RHR down 1 2 outs in 9th
White Sox 7/25/1967 J.C. Martin 7/25/1967 Ken Berry CLE Berry 2RHR down 1 in 16th
Pirates 5/28/2004 Rob Mackowiak 5/28/2004 Craig Wilson CHN Mackowiak GS, Wilson in 10th

It probably happened more often in the pre-war days with the prevalence of doubleheaders. The 2004 twinbill became a big story. Mackowiak's son was born earlier that day, then Rob hit a walk-off grand slam in the opener before hitting the tying two-run homer in the ninth in game two!

Team hits walk-off homer in three straight games:

Team First Batter Second Batter Third Batter Opp Notes
Tigers 9/17/1998 Damion Easley 9/18/1998 Tony Clark 9/19/1998 Damion Easley TOR/MIN/MIN Clark in 11th
D-Backs 5/10/1999 Jay Bell 5/11/1999 Luis Gonzalez 5/12/1999 Matt Williams MON Gonzalez in 10th
Royals 4/10/2000 Johnny Damon 4/11/2000 Brian Johnson 4/12/2000 Rey Sanchez MIN/BAL/BAL Johnson in 12th
Tigers 6/26/2004 Eric Munson 6/27/2004 Carlos Pena 6/29/2004 Dmitri Young ARZ/ARZ/CLE Pena GS, Young in 11th
Rangers 7/29/2013 Geovany Soto 7/30/2013 Leonys Martin 7/31/2013 Adrian Beltre LAA Martin in 10th









The Tigers show up twice, with the 1998 streak featuring two Damion Easley game-winners. The 2004 team was one year removed from losing 119 games, one loss shy of equaling the 1962 Mets for the most in the modern era. 

I'll leave the chronological version of the list below:


Team First Batter Second Batter Opp
Rangers 7/29/2013 Geovany Soto 7/30/2013 Leonys Martin LAA
Giants 5/3/2013 Buster Posey 5/4/2013 Guillermo Quiroz LAD
Cardinals 6/4/2011 Albert Pujols 6/5/2011 Albert Pujols CHN
Phillies 7/8/2010 Brian Schneider 7/9/2010 Ryan Howard CIN
Rockies 7/6/2010 Seth Smith 7/7/2010 Chris Iannetta STL
Angels 5/29/2010 Kendrys Morales 5/30/2010 Howie Kendrick SEA
Mets 5/7/2010 Rod Barajas 5/8/2010 Henry Blanco SF
White Sox 4/23/2010 Andruw Jones 4/24/2010 Alex Rios SEA
Yankees 5/16/2009 Alex Rodriguez 5/17/2009 Johnny Damon MIN
D-Backs 7/26/2007 Eric Byrnes 7/27/2007 Tony Clark FLA/ATL
Astros 6/28/2007 Carlos Lee 6/29/2007 Mark Loretta COL
Rays 5/19/2006 Aubrey Huff 5/20/2006 Russell Branyan FLA
Red Sox 5/10/2005 Kevin Millar 5/11/2005 Jason Varitek OAK
Tigers 6/27/2004 Carlos Pena 6/29/2004 Dmitri Young ARZ/CLE
Tigers 6/26/2004 Eric Munson 6/27/2004 Carlos Pena ARZ
Athletics 6/1/2004 Bobby Kielty 6/2/2004 Mark Kotsay CWS
Pirates 5/28/2004 Rob Mackowiak 5/28/2004 Craig Wilson CHN
Marlins 8/12/2003 Ramon Castro 8/13/2003 Mike Mordecai LAD
Giants 7/24/2003 Barry Bonds 7/25/2003 Pedro Feliz ARZ/SD
Reds 5/5/2003 Aaron Boone 5/6/2003 Barry Larkin STL
Indians 8/23/2002 Josh Bard 8/24/2002 Karim Garcia SEA
Mets 7/28/2001 Robin Ventura 7/29/2001 Mike Piazza PHI
Royals 4/11/2000 Brian Johnson 4/12/2000 Rey Sanchez BAL
Royals 4/10/2000 Johnny Damon 4/11/2000 Brian Johnson MIN/BAL
D-Backs 5/11/1999 Luis Gonzalez 5/12/1999 Matt Williams MON
D-Backs 5/10/1999 Jay Bell 5/11/1999 Luis Gonzalez MON
Dodgers 4/5/1999 Raul Mondesi 4/6/1999 Gary Sheffield ARZ
Tigers 9/18/1998 Tony Clark 9/19/1998 Damion Easley MIN
Tigers 9/17/1998 Damion Easley 9/18/1998 Tony Clark TOR/MIN
Cubs 9/12/1998 Orlando Merced 9/13/1998 Mark Grace MIL
Orioles 7/22/1998 Rafael Palmeiro 7/23/1998 Lenny Webster OAK
Mets 7/30/1996 Todd Hundley 7/31/1996 Chris Jones PIT
Indians 8/30/1995 Albert Belle 8/31/1995 Albert Belle TOR
Braves 5/19/1995 Dwight Smith 5/20/1995 Chipper Jones FLA
Tigers 5/19/1989 Lou Whitaker 5/20/1989 Alan Trammell KC
Yankees 9/8/1988 Gary Ward 9/9/1988 Claudell Washington DET
Tigers 6/20/1988 Tom Brookens 6/21/1988 Alan Trammell NYY
Angels 8/29/1986 Dick Schofield 8/30/1986 Doug DeCinces DET
Mariners 8/15/1986 Alvin Davis 8/16/1986 Alvin Davis MIN
Padres 4/13/1986 Marvell Wynne 4/14/1986 Bruce Bochy CIN/LAD
Orioles 5/10/1985 Fred Lynn 5/11/1985 Fred Lynn MIN
Expos 6/21/1983 Andre Dawson 6/22/1983 Tim Raines PHI
Orioles 9/19/1982 Rich Dauer 9/20/1982 John Lowenstein CLE/DET
Tigers 5/14/1982 Kirk Gibson 5/15/1982 Lance Parrish MIN
Rangers 10/2/1981 Mark Wagner 10/3/1981 Bob Johnson CAL
Athletics 8/14/1981 Dwayne Murphy 8/15/1981 Mike Heath CAL
Yankees 6/2/1981 Dave Revering 6/3/1981 Graig Nettles BAL
Dodgers 5/13/1981 Ron Cey 5/14/1981 Pedro Guerrero MON
Mariners 5/8/1981 Tom Paciorek 5/9/1981 Tom Paciorek NYY
Yankees 8/11/1980 Aurelio Rodriguez 8/12/1980 Ruppert Jones CWS
Athletics 6/11/1980 Tony Armas 6/13/1980 Mickey Klutts BAL/NYY
Orioles 6/22/1979 Doug DeCinces 6/23/1979 Eddie Murray DET
Rangers 8/5/1978 John Lowenstein 8/6/1978 Gary Gray CLE
Athletics 4/12/1978 Jeff Newman 4/13/1978 Gary Alexander SEA/CLE
Yankees 8/30/1977 Mickey Rivers 8/31/1977 Graig Nettles SEA
Yankees 8/17/1976 Graig Nettles 8/18/1976 Roy White TEX
Angels 8/18/1975 Leroy Stanton 8/19/1975 Mike Miley MIL
Reds 6/27/1975 Dan Driessen 6/28/1975 George Foster SD
Brewers 7/8/1974 Mike Hegan 7/9/1974 George Scott CWS
Dodgers 6/21/1974 Bill Buckner 6/22/1974 Joe Ferguson SF
Cubs 5/3/1974 Rick Monday 5/4/1974 Billy Williams CIN
Orioles 7/27/1971 Brooks Robinson 7/28/1971 Frank Robinson OAK
Braves 7/20/1971 Hank Aaron 7/21/1971 Darrell Evans SD
Twins 8/6/1970 George Mitterwald 8/7/1970 Jim Holt CAL/OAK
Tigers 5/25/1970 Bill Freehan 5/26/1970 Willie Horton NYY
Athletics 8/20/1968 Danny Cater 8/22/1968 Dick Green WSA/CAL
White Sox 7/25/1967 J.C. Martin 7/25/1967 Ken Berry CLE
Mets 5/5/1967 Jerry Buchek 5/9/1967 Tommy Davis HOU/CIN
Cubs 5/28/1966 Ron Santo 5/29/1966 Ron Santo ATL
Phillies 9/13/1962 Johnny Callison 9/14/1962 Johnny Callison MLN/STL
Indians 7/4/1962 Don Dillard 7/5/1962 Don Dillard DET
Mets 5/12/1962 Hobie Landrith 5/12/1962 Gil Hodges MLN
Dodgers 6/2/1961 Tommy Davis 6/3/1961 Daryl Spencer SF
Cubs 4/14/1961 Sammy Taylor 4/15/1961 Al Heist MLN
Cubs 8/30/1960 Ernie Banks 8/31/1960 Bob Will CIN/MLN
Reds 5/27/1960 Ed Bailey 5/29/1960 Vada Pinson MLN
Cubs 9/22/1959 George Altman 9/23/1959 Cal Neeman SF
Dodgers 4/20/1959 Charlie Neal 4/21/1959 Don Demeter SF
Cubs 5/1/1958 Johnny Goryl 5/2/1958 Walt Moryn MLN
Athletics 7/2/1955 Joe DeMaestri 7/3/1955 Vic Power DET
Reds 6/23/1953 Grady Hatton 6/24/1953 Gus Bell BKN
Giants 6/6/1947 Willard Marshall 6/9/1947 Walker Cooper STL/PIT