Top Moments of the 2017 Season: Renfroe Goes Deep Three Times
The San Diego Padres had several great moments during the 2017 season. One particular moment was when Hunter Renfroe hit three home runs in a single game.
The game was on September 20th, in a game at Petco Park against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In that contest, seven home runs were hit, setting a new park record. It was also the game where Renfroe set a couple of milestones.
It also was Renfroe’s third game back with the Padres after being recalled from Triple-A El Paso. He hit four home runs in his first three games back with the club.
With his first home run of the game, he set a new franchise record for home runs hit in a season. His second blast was his 23rd of the season, tying Nate Colbert‘s rookie record. His third set a new rookie record.
Renfroe’s first dinger came in the bottom of the third inning, off Arizona starter Robbie Ray. It came on the first pitch of the at-bat. With the score tied 2-2, Renfroe turned on a pitch and sent it into the seats behind left field. This made the score 4-2 in favor of San Diego.
The home run that Renfroe hit in the third inning was the team’s 178th of the season, setting a new franchise record. The old record was set in 2016.
Renfroe’s second blast came in the fifth inning. The score was still 4-2. With nobody on, he hit a 1-0 pitch from Ray and sent it towards the corner in left. It cleared the wall, and landed below the Western Metal Supply Building. That was home run No. 23 for the rookie right fielder, putting him in good company. Nate Colbert hit 23 home runs in 1969, his rookie season. That mark hadn’t been reached by a rookie until 2017.
His third shot came in the bottom of the ninth. A lot had happened between his two home runs. The Padres had a 5-2 lead in the fifth. By the ninth, Arizona had pulled ahead 13-6.
Renfroe was facing left-handed pitcher, Braden Shipley. Shipley threw an 0-1 breaking ball that hung over the plate. Renfroe turned on it and sent it over the wall in left. It was his 24th home run, setting a new rookie record.
Renfroe was the first Padre to hit three home runs in a game since Phil Nevin, who accomplished the feat on Oct. 6, 2001.
Mike is the sports editor for the Fayette Advertiser, and has been with East Village Times since 2015. His work has appeared on Bleacher Report. He is an avid Padres fan who is keeping the faith and trusting the process.