Rockies make shockingly bad history on pinch-hit grand slam by Pujols

The Colorado Rockies stink.

They’re down 12-0 to the Cardinals and about to get swept out of St. Louis. It’s a familiar movie for a team that is going absolutely nowhere.

Starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela suffered a nasty leg injury early in this one, and his status for the last six weeks of the season is up in the air.

But the story of the game is what happened in the third inning. After Senzatela exited, relief pitcher Austin Gomber entered from the bullpen. Gomber, the centerpiece of the Nolan Arenado trade, has a 5.86 ERA and was demoted out of the starting rotation. In a twist of irony, he even gave up a home run to Arenado last week at Coors Field.

Since Gomber is a left-handed pitcher, the Cardinals decided to make a bench move early in the game. Up 6-0 and with the bases loaded, St. Louis pinch hit legend Albert Pujols for designated hitter Brendan Donovan. You can guess what happened next.

HOME RUN NO. 690 FOR ALBERT PUJOLS IS OH SO GRAND!!!

TV: Bally Sports Midwest
Stream: https://t.co/T19nzOKKEf#STLCards pic.twitter.com/LPQfcwchmi

— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) August 18, 2022

It was the first career pinch-hit grand slam of Pujols’ career, and his 16th overall. That tied him with all-time greats Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth. It was truly a remarkable milestone. But, even crazier, it came in the third inning! A pinch-hitter that early is extremely rare without an injury. So, apparently, is a pinch-hit grand slam. Check this out.

Albert Pujols' pinch-hit grand slam is just the third PH slam in the first three innings of a game (and first since 1971):

– Pujols (STL, today)
– Bobby Murcer (NYY, 1971)
– Gene Freese (PHI, 1959)

— Paul Casella (@Paul_CasellaMLB) August 18, 2022

51 years! It’s been 51 long years since that happened. And of course it was against the Rockies. They always seem to be on the wrong side of history.

This miserable season can’t end soon enough.
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