Historic Double Header Falls On 10th Anniversary Of Record Two-Baggers
Travis Snider Was All Smiles After Record-Setting Fifth Inning
Since it was the second of the month, it kind of makes sense that the word of the day in baseball was "double." Not only was there a double header that was the first of its kind in history, but there were nearly a record amount of two base hits recorded throughout the day.
The Reds and Tigers played a twin bill in Detroit, a Cincinnati sweep that put the occasion forever in baseball annals. Each game lasted just seven innings, a new rule issued by MLB because of the COVID-19.
Those two games took just over four hours to complete, which is exactly how long it took the Astros and Angels to play only one. It took eleven innings, but Houston finally overcame the home team 6-5.
Extra inning games were to be doubled, for Chicago was the site of another eleven inning affair. After Kyle Schwarber's two base hit tied it, the Cubs managed to double Pittsburgh's run total to win the 2-1 contest.
Doubles were also the story of the day in baseball exactly ten years ago, when the Blue Jays were playing in Yankee Stadium. Toronto outfielder Travis Snider set a Major League Baseball record by hitting two doubles in the fifth inning, a frame that saw the visiting team pound six doubles and seven runs to secure an 8-6 win.
Snyder's first two-bagger led off the inning against A. J. Burnett, and he scored two pitches later on the home run by Edwin Encarnacion. Outfielder Fred Lewis then added a double,which was followed one out later by back to back gappers from Vernon Wells and Jose Bautista.
After Aaron Hill stroked another down the third base line, Burnett gave way to a reliever. Sergio Mitre fared no better, for Snider connected for yet another double on just the second pitch. It not only put Snider in the history books, but it also allowed the Blue Jays to tie the record of six doubles in one inning.
Toronto's celebration was short-lived, for they lost as many as they won during the rest of 2010. Things went a little better for the Yanks, although they lost the division to the Tampa Bay Rays after winning eight fewer games than in the previous year that saw New York capture the World Series Championship.