Royals’ Gordon hits record-setting HR
Kansas City’s Alex Gordon hit Major League Baseball’s record 5,694th home run of 2017 on Tuesday night in Toronto, breaking a season record set in 2000 at the height of the steroids era.
Gordon’s homer off Ryan Tepera, which cut the Royals’ deficit to 5-2, was his eighth this season and the 159th of his 11-year big league career.
“A pretty cool thing to be a part of,” Gordon said. “I didn’t hit many this year, but I guess I made one count.”
It was the 17th of the night in the majors and came just after Detroit’s Alex Presley tied the record when he connected at home against A’s right-hander Daniel Gossett.
Gordon said he heard talk of the record on a clubhouse television after Toronto’s Darwin Barney homered in the sixth.
“I was kind of aware that we were getting close to it,” he said. “After I walked back to the dugout, I kind of forgot about it.”
There were 5,610 homers last year, an average of 2.31 per game, and this year’s average of 2.53 entering Tuesday’s action projects to 6,139.
When the previous record of 5,693 was set in 2000, the Cubs’ Sammy Sosa led the major leagues with 50 home runs and the Giants’ Barry Bonds hit 49.
Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton leads the major leagues with 55 home runs this year, followed by Yankees rookie Aaron Judge with 44. Ferrell update: Detroit righthander Jeff Ferrell was back with the team, one day after being hit on the head by a 103 mph line drive off the bat of the A’s Ryon Healy.
Tests showed no fractures, though Ferrell is being watched for concussion symptoms.
“I’ve been icing it all day, iced it last night,” Ferrell told MLB.com. “I’ll continue to ice it as long as the swelling goes down.
“I’m thankful nothing happened worse than it did. It could’ve been a lot worse. If it were a couple of inches over on my face, it could’ve been a lot worse.” Surgery report: Milwaukee right-hander Jimmy Nelson had surgery to repair a rotatorcuff strain and partial anteriorlabrum tear he suffered while diving into a base this month. Nelson already had been ruled out for the season, and his status for the beginning of next season remains in question.
Seattle right-hander David Phelps has undergone surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow, the Seattle Times reported. The newspaper reported that Phelps is expected to be ready for spring training. Briefly: The Cardinals activated right-hander Adam Wainwright, who had been on the disabled list because of a right elbow impingement . ... The Astros activated third baseman Colin Moran, who had been on the DL since July 23 because of a facial fracture . ... Atlanta center fielder Ender Inciarte left after the fourth inning of his team’s game with Nationals with a sore left thumb and Washington second baseman Daniel Murphy was scratched shortly before the first pitch because of hamstring tightness . ... Former Giants infielder Matt Duffy, who has missed the season with the Rays following Achilles surgery, will join the Instructional League team in Port Charlotte, Fla., on Wednesday . ... Cubs righthander Jake Arrieta, out with a strained right hamstring, threw a bullpen session and said he might be able to pitch Thursday in Milwaukee.