A's, Astros belt record 24 HRs, go 9,862 feet
LOS ANGELES -- The home runs never stopped flying out of Dodger Stadium in the American League Division Series between the Astros and A's.
With a combined six homers in Houston’s series-clinching 11-6 win Game in 4 on Thursday, the two clubs broke the all-time Division Series record with a combined 24 homers, breaking the record of 22 set in the 1995 ALDS between the Yankees and Mariners that saw both clubs smack 11 homers each in five games. The A's and Astros hit 12 homers apiece, which also set a new record for most homers by one club in a Division Series. It was the first time in any postseason series of any length that both clubs reached 12 homers.
Here’s a look at other notable facts and feats about all of the homers hit between the two clubs in a 2020 postseason where clubs are 21-1 in games when outhomering their opponents:
• The first game of the series saw a combined six homers, while there were five more in Game 2 and seven in Game 3. Eight different players hit multiple homers in the series, including Astros shortstop Carlos Correa, who led with three after crushing a go-ahead three-run shot as part of a five-run fourth inning against right-hander Frankie Montas. Astros designated hitter Michael Brantley and A’s center fielder Ramón Laureano also had two-homer games on Thursday to join that club.
• The others with two homers in the series were Oakland's Khris Davis, Matt Olson, Chad Pinder and Houston's George Springer and Jose Altuve. Also homering in the series were Houston's Alex Bregman, Aledmys Díaz, Martin Maldonado and Michael Brantley and Oakland's Mark Canha, Tommy La Stella, Sean Murphy and Marcus Semien.
• The two clubs hit a combined 9,862 feet worth of home runs, with 4,971 feet for the A's and 4,891 feet for the Astros. The average home run distance was a robust 411 feet, as Oakland averaged 414 feet and Houston averaged 408 feet.
• Despite the series only going four games, it nearly reached the all-time postseason record of 26 combined homers set by the Rays (16) and Red Sox (10) in the seven-game AL Championship Series in 2008. The only other series to reach 25 combined home runs both involved Houston: the '04 National League Championship Series between the Astros (14) and Cardinals (11), and the '17 World Series between the Astros (15) and Dodgers (10).
• The series was one of 10 to feature double-digit homers from both clubs, joining the 2019 World Series: Nationals 11, Astros 11 (7 games); '17 World Series: Astros 15, Dodgers 10 (7 games); '08 ALCS: Rays 16, Red Sox 10 (7 games); '04 NLCS: Astros 14, Cardinals 11 (7 games); '03 NLCS: Cubs 13, Marlins 10 (7 games); and 1995 ALDS: Mariners 11, Yankees 11 (5 games).
• Correa hit three homers in the series and now has 15 career postseason homers, which ranks second all-time among shortstops behind Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, who hit 20. Correa has played in 56 postseason games, while Jeter played in 158.
• Springer homered twice in the series and is Houston's all-time home run leader in the postseason with 17. He's just ahead of a pair of his teammates, as Correa and Altuve are tied for second with 15.
• The A's broke their franchise record for homers in a series, topping the nine homers they hit in a four-game sweep of the Giants in the 1989 World Series.
• The series almost had another homer in Game 4, but Astros right fielder Josh Reddick robbed Matt Olson with a great catch at the short fence in right field. It would've been a homer in 21 of 30 Major League parks, according to Statcast.