More reasons to be proud of Ryan Braun’s 3-HR game

May 2, 2012 (Wednesday)

Braun hits the first of 3 HRs (Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News

When Ryan Braun smashed three HRs against the San Diego Padres on Monday night (see video), Jewish baseball fans everywhere celebrated.

Here are a few more reasons to be proud:

The Milwaukee Brewers right fielder is just the fifth Jewish player since 1918 to homer 3 or more times in a 9-inning game, and the first to do so in nearly 10 years.

Players with 3+ HRs in a 9-inning game, since 1918

Name	Team	Date	HRs	Notes
Ryan Braun	Milwaukee Brewers	4/30/2012	3	Went 4-for-5 with a triple, 6 RBIs, and 15 total bases
Mike Lieberthal	Philadelphia Phillies	8/10/2002	3	Went 4-for-5 with a single and 4 RBIs
Shawn Green	Los Angeles Dodgers	5/23/2002	4	Went 6-for-6 with a single, double, 7 RBIs, and 19 total bases
Shawn Green	Los Angeles Dodgers	8/15/2001	3	Went 3-for-5 with 7 RBIs
Mike Epstein	Washington Senators	5/16/1969	3	Went 3-for-4 with 4 RBIs
Al Rosen	Cleveland Indians	4/29/1952	3	Went 4-6 with a single, walk, and 7 RBIs

Hank Greenberg, who leads all Jewish players with 331 career HRs, never had a 3-HR game. He did hit two HRs in a game 35 times.
Thanks to an added triple Monday night, Braun finished with 15 total bases. The last time a major-leaguer had 15 or more total bases in a 9-inning game? Nearly 8 years ago, when Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals hit 3 HRs, a double, and a single against the very same San Diego Padres (7/20/2004).
Monday night’s game took place in a venue — San Diego’s Petco Park — that is unfriendly to HRs, though much more so to lefties than righties. As this article points out, the Padres as a team hit just 6 HRs in their first 14 home games this season. Braun matched half that number in just one game. (Thanks to Jewish Baseball News contributor Jack W. for the tip.)
Monday’s performance vaulted Braun into a tie for 2nd-most HRs in the National League this season, behind Matt Kemp’s 12 dingers. The Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder finished 2nd to Braun in last year’s N.L. MVP vote.

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