MLBBy Matt Clapp on

The last two seasons have not been kind to Chicago White Sox pitcher James Shields. The former star (or at least very good) right-hander had a miserable 2016 campaign, with a 5.85 ERA and 6.01 FIP in 181 2/3 innings. Things had actually been looking up for Shields of late, as he entered Saturday with a 2.42 ERA in four starts.

But then Saturday’s game came along, and all of those good feelings for Shields surely disappeared. The Oakland Athletics had three rookies hit their first career homers on Saturday, all against Shields.

23-year-old Matt Olson actually hit two career homers in the game, and here was his first career dinger in the top of the first inning:

25-year-old rookie Jaycob Brugman followed with his first career homer in the top of the second:

And in the top of the third, Franklin Barreto — a consensus top-50 MLB prospect — went yard in his second career at-bat:

If you’re thinking this feat has to be very rare, you’d be right. In fact, this is the very first time in MLB history that three players have hit their first career homers in the same game against the same pitcher.

Three players have hit their first career homers in the same game before… but not since 1914.

Shields allowed six earned runs over three innings, and the A’s came away with a 10-2 victory in Chicago.

[MLB]

About Matt Clapp

Matt is an editor at The Comeback. He attended Colorado State University, wishes he was Saved by the Bell's Zack Morris, and idolizes Larry David. And loves pizza and dogs because obviously.

He can be followed on Twitter at @Matt2Clapp (also @TheBlogfines for Cubs/MLB tweets and @DaBearNecess for Bears/NFL tweets), and can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.

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