Max Kepler Hits Five Straight Home Runs off Trevor Bauer

Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler loves to face Cleveland Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer. Kepler hit home runs in his first two at bats Saturday against the Indians starter giving the outfielder five home runs in five straight at-bats versus the hard-throwing right-hander.

Kepler hit three home runs off Bauer on June 6 and drew one walk. The outfielder hit a fourth home run in as many at-bats with a leadoff blast on Saturday then hits another off Bauer in the second inning.

Kepler’s streak finally came to an end in the fourth inning when Bauer struck the slugger out, but not before Kepler hit a foul ball that landed in the upper deck of right field. Kepler ended the game with two hits in five at-bats and more importantly the Twins defeated the Indians 6-2.

The win extended the Twins lead in the American League Central to 7 ½ games over the second place Indians.

The streak of home runs by Kepler off Bauer matches the longest in the expansion era for home runs in consecutive at-bats versus the same pitcher. In 2003-04, Carlos Delgado hit five straight home runs in as many at-bats against Jorge Sosa, and Frank Howard did the same in 1963-64 off Bob Hendley.

Kepler has hits 13 home runs during this MLB career against Cleveland with 11 coming at Progressive Field. The slugger hit three home runs in one game against Cleveland while a rookie in 2016.

With two home runs in Saturday’s game, Kepler has hit multiple home runs in four games this season which is equal to his total over the last three seasons.

Bauer said following the game that Kepler was locked in against him, but that it would not last forever.