5 replies to this topic

[OttoC]

Last night's game was the fifth consecutive game in which the Red Sox have scored four runs. That matches the franchise record for most games scoring an identical number of runs, accomplished in 1928 when they lost a doubleheader on the road (3-7, 3-6) to the White Sox on August 1st, then won the last game of the four-game series, 3-1. They went on to St. Louis and split the next two games with the Browns, 3-11, 3-1.

[joyofsox]

Cool! I posted about this on my blog and then played a bit with B-Ref:

I don't know what the all-time record is for most consecutive games scoring the same amount of runs, but here are lists of identical run totals from 1954-2009:

0 Runs: 4 games -- 7 times, last by 1992 Cubs

1 Run: 5 games -- 1962 Athletics, 1967 Twins, 1968 Dodgers, 2001 Tigers

2 Runs: 6 games -- 1980 Twins

3 Runs: 6 games -- 1993 Cleveland, 1984 Astros

4 Runs: 7 games -- 2003 Cleveland

5 Runs: 5 games -- 1964 Cubs, 1996 Cardinals, 2005 Dodgers

6 Runs: 5 games -- 1966 Phillies, 2001 White Sox

7 Runs: 6 games -- 1989 Brewers

8 Runs: 3 games -- 28 times, last by 2007 Royals; the 1997 Expos had a 1-2 record!

9 Runs: 3 games -- 18 times, last by 2008 Reds

10 Runs: 4 games -- 1977 Phillies

11 Runs: 3 games -- 1954 Giants, 1991 White Sox

12 Runs: 2 games -- 22 times, last by 2008 Twins

13 Runs: 3 games -- 1999 Cleveland

Naturally, the number of teams scoring at least a certain amount of runs will be higher. For example, two teams have scored at least eight runs in eight straight games.

And the 1993 Tigers scored at least 15 runs in three straight games, sweeping Baltimore in mid-August 15-1, 15-5 and 17-11. (Detroit then scored only one run in each of their next two games.)

The post with links to the lists is here.

What is the all-time record?

[OttoC]

I don't know what the all-time record is and it is such a chore pulling it out of a database, I'm not inclined to look...even though I am interested, too. So, I asked on SABR-L and will pass the answer along.

[paulftodd]

The number 4 is considerd unlucky in China because it sounds the same as the word death (different tone). Better we scored lucky 7-8 runs in a row. It's a bad omen I tell you. And 1928 was the year before the Great Depression, oh my.

[OttoC]

So who do we blame, the person responsible for each of the number fours or the ones who failed to increase the total over four? And, if you want to play with numbers, the sum of the digits of 1928 add to 20, which is 5 games of 4 runs.

[paulftodd]

So who do we blame, the person responsible for each of the number fours or the ones who failed to increase the total over four? And, if you want to play with numbers, the sum of the digits of 1928 add to 20, which is 5 games of 4 runs.

It has to be a player with a 4 letter last name who played in every game, and started 4 of them, went hitless in 4 games, with 5 hits in one game. (lugo)

Of course, it could be Papi, also a 4 letter name who played in and started 4 of those games.

Lugo and Papi both claim to be 33 and were born in November (11th month). 11+33=44. Both have a 5 letter first name.

1928 is 5042 in absolute time (add 3114 as the Mayan calendar started in 3114 BC). Add up the numbers, it is 11. 2009 (add up the numbers is 11) is 5122 in absolute time, the numbers add up to 10. Add 11 + 10, thats 21. Combined Papi and Lugo left 21 runners on base in the 5 games where the team scored 20 runs.

Of course, JD Drew also has a 4 letter last name, and had 20 PA and scored 4 runs, and left 4 ROB. He is also 33 and was born in November. And his first name is David (5 letters). He played in all 5 games and finished 4.

The numbers of the players are Lugo 23 (2*3 = 6), Drew 7 (7) and Papi 34 (3*4=12). Together they add up to 25 (6+7+12). Lugo, Papi and Drew combined to leave 25 ROB. Another way, 23+7+34=64=10. 2009 is 5122 in absolute time, and the numbers add up to 10.

So it is clear, the numbers say the current streak is a shared effort among Lugo, Drew and Papi.

edit-the streak is over, maybe because Lugo did not finish the game, or because Papi's absence has been noted by the BABIP gods, whatever. However, the streak of scoring either 4 or 5 games is now at 7

Edited by paulftodd, 17 May 2009 - 03:22 AM.