Four straight home runs by one team in a game

Four straight home runs. That’s the record for most consecutive home runs by a team in an inning, and it’s been done eight times. That’s eight instances of back-to-back-to-back-to-back home runs.

The first time it ever happened was in 1961, when the Braves hit four straight against the Reds in the seventh inning. As you might’ve guessed, Hank Aaron was involved. He hit the second homer.

Most recently, the Nationals did it in 2017 against the Brewers. And if not for a Daniel Murphy fly ball to end the four-homer streak, it could’ve been five -- because the batter after Murphy, Anthony Rendon, also went yard. That’s four straight home runs, an out, and then a fifth home run of the inning.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen that...I’ve seen back-to-back-to-back, but not four in a row. It’s like you almost can’t believe it,” said then-Nationals manager Dusty Baker at the time.

Here’s the list of instances of back-to-back-to-back-to-back home runs in MLB history:

July 27, 2017: Nationals (vs Brewers), 3rd inning
Brian Goodwin, Wilmer Difo, Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman
The Nationals became the fourth National League team to hit four straight home runs, doing so off of Michael Blazek. Blazek allowed five home runs total in the inning, tying the Major League record. Before the homer-happy inning, the Nationals led 2-0. They went on to win the game 15-2.

Aug. 11, 2010: D-backs (vs Brewers), 4th inning
Adam LaRoche, Miguel Montero, Mark Reynolds, Stephen Drew
The D-backs entered the top of the fourth inning at Miller Park trailing 2-0. After a Justin Upton flyout, Adam LaRoche went yard off Dave Bush to bring the D-backs within one run. That was followed by homers from Miguel Montero, Mark Reynolds and Stephen Drew. It was the second time in the 2010 season that Bush had allowed four home runs in a game -- but the first time in a single inning.

Aug. 14, 2008: White Sox (vs Royals), 6th inning
Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, Alexei Ramirez, Juan Uribe
Jim Thome started the party with a three-run home run off Joel Peralta, who had walked Ken Griffey Jr. and Carlos Quentin earlier in the inning. Paul Konerko and Alexei Ramirez followed up with solo home runs to end Peralta’s outing. After a pitching change, Rob Tejeda came in and got two strikes on Juan Uribe before allowing a home run, Chicago’s fourth straight home run.

April 22, 2007: Red Sox (vs Yankees), 3rd inning
Manny Ramirez, J.D. Drew, Mike Lowell, Jason Varitek
Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz both flew out to start the inning, and the Red Sox had two outs just two batters into the bottom of the third against Chase Wright. Then Manny Ramirez hit one to deep left-center and the streak began. His homer was followed by home runs from J.D. Drew, Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek to put the Red Sox up 4-3. They went on to win the game 7-6, thanks in part to a second home run from Lowell off Scott Proctor in the seventh inning.

Sept. 18, 2006: Dodgers (vs Padres), 9th inning
Jeff Kent, J.D. Drew, Russell Martin, Marlon Anderson
The Dodgers entered the bottom of the ninth against the Padres trailing 9-5. Jon Adkins allowed solo home runs to Jeff Kent and J.D. Drew to bring the score to 9-7. He was replaced by Trevor Hoffman, who came in and allowed two straight home runs to bring it to four total. Russell Martin and Marlon Anderson each homered on the first pitch they saw from the future Hall of Famer. The Dodgers tied the score and went on to win on a Nomar Garciaparra walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th. Drew is the only player to be part of multiple instances of back-to-back-to-back-to-back home runs. And his brother Stephen was part of the Nationals’ one, too!

May 2, 1964: Twins (vs A’s), 11th inning
Tony Oliva, Bob Allison, Jimmie Hall, Harmon Killebrew
On the road in Kansas City, the Twins entered the top of the 11th in a 3-3 tie. Tony Oliva put them ahead with a solo home run off Dan Pfister, but the Twins weren’t done yet. Bob Allison and Jimmie Hall homered off Pfister too, before he was replaced by Vern Handrahan. Handrahan allowed the Twins’ fourth straight home run, to Harmon Killebrew. The Twins are the only team to hit four straight home runs in an extra inning.

July 31, 1963: Indians (vs Angels), 6th inning (Game 2)
Woodie Held, Pedro Ramos, Tito Francona, Larry Brown
The Indians became the first American League team to hit four straight home runs in the second game of a 1963 doubleheader. After two quick outs, they hit four straight solo home runs off Paul Foytack to extend a 5-1 lead to 9-1. Foytack’s pitching line? 1 2/3 IP, 10 batters faced, five hits, four earned runs. Larry Brown, who hit the final of the four straight home runs, was Foytack’s last batter of the game.

June 8, 1961: Braves (vs Reds), 7th inning
Eddie Mathews, Hank Aaron, Joe Adcock, Frank Thomas
The first time a team ever hit four straight home runs in a game was also the only time a team has ever hit four straight home runs and lost the game. The Braves were trailing the Reds 10-2 entering the top of the seventh. Eddie Mathews started the streak with a two-run home run off Jim Maloney. Hank Aaron then hit the 229th home run of his career. Marshall Bridges took over after a pitching change and promptly allowed the final two home runs, to Joe Adcock and Frank Thomas. Despite the five runs in that inning and a solo home run from Mathews in the eighth, the Braves lost 10-8.