Uptons go deep, set sibling home run record
Brothers belt blasts in the same game for the fifth time to make history
ATLANTA -- Once Justin Upton rounded the bases after taking Stephen Strasburg deep to give the Braves a quick two-run lead in the first inning of Friday night's 7-6 win over the Nationals, B.J. Upton approached him and said, "Well, if I hit a homer, maybe we'll do it tonight."
One inning later, B.J. sent a Strasburg breaking ball over the left-field wall that not only increased Atlanta's lead to 4-0 but marked the fifth time both brothers homered in a single game, setting a new Major League record for siblings.
The Uptons previously shared the record of four games with Vladimir and Wilton Guerrero and Jason and Jeremy Giambi.
"I don't know why tonight was the night," Justin said. "He never said that before any other time, but for some reason, he had a good feeling tonight."
Justin and B.J. broke the sibling record less than two months after they tied it against the Astros on June 24 at Minute Maid Park. The 45 days that passed between then and Friday was much shorter than their previous wait.
Before tying the record in Houston, the Braves had played 217 games since the brothers had last homered in the same game -- the second contest of a doubleheader on April 23, 2013, at Coors Field.
It was a lengthy drought, considering the Uptons accomplished the feat in three of the first 20 games they played together. But they have more than made up for it, breaking the record in only 220 games together as Braves teammates.
The Guerreros appeared in 345 games as teammates and the Giambis played 219 contests in the same uniform.
"I think it's enough to say two brothers have been in the big leagues as long as we have, and getting the opportunity to play with each other is enough," B.J. said. "For us to be able to break a record, you can only dream about that."
"I never take it for granted," Justin added. "Coming to the ballpark with my brother every day is special, and I try to take it in every single day, but when we do stuff like this and setting records, it's definitely nice. We really enjoy playing together, and to do that is special."