Home run hat tricks for Cano, DeJong, Cruz and Betts

It's easy to become desensitized to all the big home run numbers these days.

Still, this past week was pretty special.

Robinson Canó, Paul DeJong, Nelson Cruz and Mookie Betts each hit three homers in a game — and they did it on consecutive days. The unprecedented streak of home run hat tricks began with Canó on Tuesday and was capped, somewhat fittingly, by Betts on Friday.

St. Louis Cardinals' Paul DeJong hits a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Jose Osuna during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, July 24, 2019. It was DeJong's third home run of the game. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)

It was the fifth time in his career — one shy of the major league record — that Betts hit three homers in a game.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this was the first time in major league history there were even three straight days with a three-homer game. There have now been 15 of them this season. The first three-homer game was by Paul Goldschmidt back on March 29. The longest stretch without one was 21 days, between Christian Yelich (April 15) and Justin Turner (May 7).

Only two teams this season — the Cardinals and Twins — have had more than one player pull off the feat. Cruz and Max Kepler did it for Minnesota, DeJong and Goldschmidt for St. Louis.

Minnesota Twins' Nelson Cruz points to the sky at home plate after hitting his third home run of the game during the fifth inning of a baseball game as Chicago White Sox catcher James McCann, left, looks on Thursday, July 25, 2019, in Chicago. (AP PhotoJeff Haynes)

Only the Yankees and Pirates have been victimized more than once. New York allowed three homers to Betts and Travis d'Arnaud. Pittsburgh gave up three to DeJong and Derek Dietrich.

According to the Baseball-Reference.com play index — which includes data going back to 1908 — the most three-homer games in one season was 22 in 2001. Barry Bonds did it twice that year en route to the single-season home run record. Sammy Sosa had three three-homer games between Aug. 9 and Sept. 23. Jeromy Burnitz and Richie Sexson accomplished the feat in the same game for Milwaukee, in a September win over the eventual champion Diamondbacks.

Aside from 2001, only two other years are still ahead of 2019 on the list. There were 19 three-homer games in 2016, including two by Betts. There were 16 in 1999.

Boston Red Sox's Mookie Betts hits a two-run homer in front of New York Yankees catcher Austin Romine in the fourth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Friday, July 26, 2019, in Boston. It was his third home run of the game. (AP PhotoElise Amendola)

Elsewhere around the majors:

HANGING AROUND

The Milwaukee Brewers have been outscored by 16 runs on the season, but they're five games over .500 and just a game out of first place in the NL Central. Milwaukee just took two of three from Chicago, winning both games in its last at-bat before the Cubs avoided a sweep by winning Sunday.

The Brewers have the third-worst ERA in the National League at 4.68, so it will be interesting to see if they can improve their pitching before the trade deadline.

CHAOS

The Tampa Bay Rays moved pitcher Adam Kolarek from the mound to first base in a 3-2 win over Boston on Wednesday. The idea was to keep Kolarek in the game so he could return to the mound later, but the strategy caused all sorts of confusion and led Red Sox manager Alex Cora to protest the game. Cora didn't agree with the way the umpires handled Tampa Bay's batting order after the unusual changes to the lineup, and the game was delayed quite a bit.

HIGHLIGHT

Minnesota turned a 5-4-3 triple play against the Yankees last Monday night on Edwin Encarnación's grounder. Luis Arraez stepped on third and threw to second baseman Jonathan Schoop, who relayed to first. The plays at second and first were both close, making this defensive gem even more impressive.

LINE OF THE WEEK

Any of those three-homer games would be a reasonable choice here, but Canó gets bonus points because his home runs accounted for all of New York's scoring in a 5-2 win over San Diego.

Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle missed practice with an ankle injury on Wednesday, leaving his status for this weekend's big game against the Chicago Bears in question.

Kittle hurt his ankle during Monday night's 48-27 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Coach Kyle Shanahan said Kittle still has “a chance” to play on Sunday night against the Bears depending on how quickly he heals this week.

San Francisco (11-4) has clinched a playoff spot and can earn the top seed in the NFC by beating the Bears (11-4) and Seattle (12-3) in the final two games of the season.

The 49ers got some good news on the injury front on Wednesday with receiver Ricky Pearsall returning to practice on a limited basis after missing last week's game with a knee injury.

Pearsall, who missed six games earlier this season with a knee injury, has 31 catches for 443 yards on the season.

But losing Kittle would be a big blow to a San Francisco offense that has been operating at a high level during a five-game winning streak. The Niners have gone back-to-back games without having to punt for the first time in franchise history.

Kittle is a key part of both the run and pass game for the 49ers. The Niners' running game has improved since Kittle returned after missing five games early this season with a hamstring injury.

Kittle has 31 catches for 415 yards and four TDs during the current winning streak and is second on the team to running back Christian McCaffrey in catches (52) and yards (599) despite missing five games.

The 49ers have a 144.6 passer rating when targeting Kittle this season, according to Sportradar, which would be the highest for any player with at least 50 targets since Russell Wilson had a 158.3 rating targeting Tyler Lockett in 2018.

Defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos also didn't practice Wednesday, getting a scheduled day off to rest his sore knee.

Cornerback Renardo Green was limited after missing last week's game with a neck injury.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Winston Jr. (23) tackles San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (1) after a catch during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) runs against Indianapolis Colts linebacker Germaine Pratt (53) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) is tackled against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)