Uptons hit back-to-back jacks, a rare feat for brothers
DENVER -- The ball continued to fly for the Braves in Tuesday's twin-bill nightcap at Coors Field, even as the temperatures kept dropping after peaking at 30 degrees. The Braves had six homers in the doubleheader -- matching the Marlins' season output -- and the assault was capped by B.J. and Justin Upton going back to back for the first time in the Majors.
"He got me excited about his good swing, and I got a good pitch to hit, too," Justin said, adding that the brothers had never hit back-to-back homers at any level. "It's always cool when you can see him have success before you and then you go and do the same thing."
The feat marked the first time that big league brothers hit back-to-back homers in 75 years. The only other Major League tandem to accomplish the task were Hall of Famers Lloyd and Paul Waner, who did it for the Pirates on Sept. 15, 1938.
"That's pretty cool," Justin said of joining the Waner brothers' company, admitting that he hadn't known it was such a rare feat.
It was B.J.'s third and Justin's 11th roundtripper this season, giving Justin sole possession of the Atlanta mark for April homers, surpassing the 10 by Andres Galarraga (in 1998 and 2000) and Ryan Klesko (1996).
"You come into the season with a new team trying to fit in and just try to be a part of a team that was already good," Justin said. "I can't put a thumb on why I've hit the way I have. I just have to continue to work and try to keep it up."
The Uptons homered in the same game for the third time this season and joined a list of 27 total times when bashing brothers have left the park in the same game. Oakland's Jason and Jeremy Giambi are tied with Montreal's Vladimir and Wilton Guerrero with four same-game dingers, followed by the Uptons, Waners and Milwaukee's Hank and Tommie Aaron with three. Boston's Billy and Tony Conigliaro, Baltimore's Cal and Billy Ripken, San Diego's Adrian and Edgar Gonzalez accomplished the feat twice, and San Francisco's Felipe and Matty Alou -- and Matty and Jesus Alou -- the Angels' Bengie and Jose Molina, and Pittsburgh's Adam and Andy LaRoche all did so one time.
"They make your lineup a lot better," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said of the addition of the Upton brothers to a lineup that has helped give Atlanta the best record in baseball at 15-5.