Video: Kris Bryant ties Ernie Banks’ home run record

By Sep 14, 2019, 8:48 PM EDT
Kris Bryant
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The Cubs bulldozed their way to a couple of home run records on Saturday, dominating the Pirates 14-1 to edge closer to the division lead. Powering that 14-run spread: two singles, a double, and four home runs, the latter of which bumped the team’s total to a single-season, franchise-record 237 in 2019.

Ben Zobrist took care of the first home run, teeing off against Pittsburgh rookie James Marvel in the second inning with a solo shot, his first of the year. Kris Bryant followed with a two-run blast in the fourth, while Nico Hoerner’s record-breaking three-run homer in the sixth and Victor Caratini‘s solo bomb in the seventh were the cherries on top of a decisive win.

For Bryant, Saturday’s home run felt a little more special than usual. He picked up a 1-1 fastball from Marvel and returned it to left field for his 29th homer of the season, bringing him to a career total of 136. It’s an impressive pace for the three-time All-Star; as he nears the conclusion of his fifth season in the majors, he’s on the verge of surpassing the franchise record set by Cubs Hall of Fame infielder Ernie Banks, who also belted 136 homers through his first five seasons with the club.

While the Cubs have been on an unbelievable tear this month — leading all NL teams with 68 runs scored in the first two weeks of September — it would still take some serious effort for them to lay claim to the home run title by season’s end. They currently rank second in the National League and seventh overall with 237 home runs, well below the NL-leading Dodgers (261) and league-leading Yankees (285).

Padres claim 2-time All-Star catcher Gary Sánchez off waivers from Mets

Associated PressMay 30, 2023, 11:24 AM EDT
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
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SAN DIEGO — The scuffling San Diego Padres claimed catcher Gary Sánchez off waivers from the New York Mets.

The two-time All-Star was designated for assignment after playing in three games for the Mets. He went 1 for 6 with three strikeouts and an RBI, looking shaky at times behind the plate.

With the disappointing Padres (24-29) getting meager offensive production at catcher, they hope Sánchez can provide a boost. Austin Nola is batting .131 with three extra-base hits and a paltry .434 OPS in 39 games. His part-time platoon partner, second-stringer Brett Sullivan, is hitting .170 with four extra-base hits and a .482 OPS in 21 games since getting called up from the minors April 16.

Luis Campusano has been on the injured list since April 17 and is expected to be sidelined until around the All-Star break following left thumb surgery.

San Diego is responsible for just over $1 million in salary for Sánchez after assuming his $1.5 million, one-year contract.

The star-studded Padres have lost seven of 11 and are 3-3 on a nine-game East Coast trip. They open a three-game series at Miami.

San Diego becomes the third National League team to take a close look at the 30-year-old Sánchez this season. He spent time in the minors with San Francisco before getting released May 2 and signing a minor league contract a week later with the Mets, who were minus a couple of injured catchers at the time.

After hitting well in a short stint at Triple-A Syracuse, he was promoted to the big leagues May 19. When the Mets reinstated catcher Tomás Nido from the injured list last week, Sánchez was cut.

Sánchez’s best seasons came early in his career with the New York Yankees, where he was runner-up in 2016 AL Rookie of the Year voting and made the AL All-Star team in 2017 and 2019.

He was traded to Minnesota before the 2022 season and batted .205 with 16 homers and 61 RBIs in 128 games last year.

With the Padres, Sánchez could also be a candidate for at-bats at designated hitter, where 42-year-old Nelson Cruz is batting .245 with three homers, 16 RBIs and a .670 OPS, and 37-year-old Matt Carpenter is hitting .174 with four homers, 21 RBIs and a .652 OPS.