PIttsburgh Pirates Hit Three Pairs of Back-to-Back Home Runs

The Pittsburgh Pirates hit three pairs of back-to-back home runs against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, becoming the first team to accomplish such a feat in one game since the 1977 Boston Red Sox, per Elias via ESPN Stats & Info.

The Pirates didn't even need a full game to make history, as Monday's contest at Great American Ball Park was suspended after six innings due to rain. The humid conditions contributed to the homer-happy atmosphere, with the Reds piling up four long balls of their own in a game that will be resumed late Tuesday afternoon with the score tied 7-7 in the seventh inning.

Pittsburgh's onslaught of home runs began in the second inning when Neil Walker crushed a solo shot off of Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey. The next batter, Gaby Sanchez, hit an equally impressive home run to give the Pirates their first pair of back-to-back shots.

After a Ryan Ludwick homer gave Cincinnati a 4-3 lead, the Pirates came back with more firepower in the top of the fifth. Starling Marte led off the inning with a home run, and Travis Snider immediately followed with a solo blast of his own.

For the third pair of back-to-back jacks, Walker and Sanchez again did the honors, each hitting a home run to start the sixth inning. Oddly enough, all three pairs of back-to-back shots started with the first batter of an inning, meaning that all six of the Pirates' homers were of the solo variety.

After becoming just the third team in MLB history to go back-to-back three times, the Pirates have a unique opportunity to return the next day and set a standalone record.

Due to bat in the top of the seventh inning? Andrew McCutchen and Pedro Alvarez.