How’s this for an ending? No. 7 Texas Tech entered the bottom of the 10th inning against UConn on Monday, trailing 8-6. That score didn’t last for long, though, as the Red Raiders crushed back-to-back-to-back homers to start the inning -- and finish the game, with the third homer a walk-off blast.
If that seems like something you haven’t seen in a Major League game, it’s because you haven’t. There’s just one instance on record of a team hitting three straight homers in the ninth inning or extras, with that third home run being a walk-off.
That was the Dodgers, on June 29, 1956, against the Phillies. But unlike with Texas Tech, the homers didn’t start the inning, nor did they all come off the same pitcher.
Trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Jim Gilliam led off the inning with a walk against Stu Miller. Then Pee Wee Reese struck out. Duke Snider was up next, and he hit a two-run homer to bring the Dodgers within one. That led to a pitching change, with Jack Meyer replacing Miller.
Then Randy Jackson hit a solo home run and Gil Hodges walked it off with one of his own. Similar -- with three straight homers, including a walk-off, in the decisive inning -- but not quite the same.