Los Angeles Dodger Shawn Green has become only the 14th player in major league baseball history to hit four home runs in one game, as the Dodgers routed the Milwaukee Brewers 16-3.
Green is the second player in just three weeks to hit four homers in a single game. Before that, no major league player had accomplished the feat in nine seasons.
The Dodgers right fielder also hit a double and single in six trips to the plate, while scoring six runs and driving in seven. The accomplishment gives Green the major league record for total bases in one game, 19, and ties the modern record for runs scored in a game.
On May 2, Seattle Mariners' slugger Mike Cameron had four home runs in a game against the Chicago White Sox. Never before have two players hit four homers in a game during the same season.
In other National League action Thursday, the New York Mets broke a scoreless tie in the ninth inning to beat the Phillies, 1-0, in Philadelphia.
Saint Louis completed a three game sweep of Houston when J.D. Drew drove in the winning run in the eighth inning to lift the Cardinals over the visiting Astros, 5-4.
In other National League match-ups Thursday, the Florida Marlins rolled over the Cincinnati Reds, 8-4, the Chicago Cubs trounced the Pittsburgh Pirates, 11-6, and the Colorado Rockies shellacked the San Diego Padres, 16-3.
In the American League, Boston Red Sox star pitcher Pedro Martinez is now undefeated in seven decisions this season. He struck out 10 Yankees Thursday on the way to a 3-1 victory over visiting New York. Martinez allowed only one run and four hits in seven innings on the mound.
In other American League action, the Baltimore Orioles crushed the Oakland Athletics, 11-3, and the Seattle Mariners defeated the Tampa Bay Devil Rays,7-3. A game between the Texas Rangers and host Kansas City Royals was postponed.