The Five Greatest Single-Game Performances of the Decade

Let's do this.


5.) Mariners @ White Sox, May 2, 2002. Mike Cameron blasts four home runs in one game.
All the signs were pointing to some sort of history being made in the first-inning of this game, when Mike Cameron and Bret Boone of the Mariners hit back-to-back home runs twice in a 10-run first inning. Cameron homered again in the third and fifth inning to tie the single-game record of four home runs in one game. He nearly made a bid at a record-setting fifth home run in the top of the ninth inning, when he flew out to the warning track in deep right field. He became the 13th player in MLB history to homer four times in one game, the first since Mark Whiten pulled off the trick in 1993, and the first AL player to do it since Cleveland's Rocky Colavito in 1959. The Mariners won the game easily, 15-4.


4.) Rangers @ Orioles, August 30, 2007. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Don't let the above picture fool you; this was not the score of a Texans/Ravens game in the NFL. The Rangers scored the most runs in a game in modern baseball history on this evening, as they went on to defeat the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of a doubleheader, 30-3. Remarkably enough, the Rangers actually trailed in this game 3-0 in the third inning, and even more remarkably, the the Rangers only led by a 5-3 score as late as the fifth inning. Then, they erupted for 25 more runs, scoring nine in the sixth, 10 in the eighth, and six more in the ninth. Also, the Rangers' number eight and nine hitters (Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ramon Vazquez) each hit two home runs and drove in seven. Perhaps the most incredible stat to come out of this game was the fact that Rangers pitcher Wes Littleton actually got credited with a save for preserving a 27 run lead. The Rangers would go on to defeat Baltimore 9-7 in the second game, to set an all-time record of 39 total runs in a doubleheader.


3.) Dodgers @ Brewers, May 23, 2002. Shawn Green goes 6-6, with four home runs and 19 total bases.
The title says it all, as Dodgers outfielder Shawn Green put together an afternoon for the ages at Miller Park, as he hit a single, a double, four home runs and drove in seven in the Dodgers' 16-3 rout of the Brewers. His 19 total bases in this game set an all-time record that likely won't be broken anytime soon.


2.) Rays @ White Sox, July 23, 2009. A perfect day for Mark Buehrle and the White Sox.
Mark Buehrle became just the 18th pitcher in MLB history, and the second pitcher in White Sox history, to toss a perfect game, as he blanked the defending AL Champion Rays 5-0. Buehrle struck out six in this masterpiece that lasted a tidy two hours and three minutes. The play of the game came in the top of the ninth with nobody out, when Rays outfielder Gabe Kapler hit a deep fly ball to left-center field that looked like it would be a home run. However, Sox center fielder Dewayne Wise made a catch for the ages, robbing Kapler of the would-be home run and thus preserving perfection. Buehrle joined Charlie Robertson as the only two Sox pitchers to accomplish this feat, as Robertson blanked the Detroit Tigers 2-0 in 1922.


1.) Diamondbacks @ Braves, May 18, 2004. The Big Unit is perfect.
Before Buehrle's perfecto in 2009, Randy Johnson achieved perfection in 2004, as he absolutely dominated Atlanta to the tune of 13 strikeouts during his performance. He also became the oldest pitcher in MLB history to toss a perfect game, doing it at the age of 40.

Honorable Mention:
Reds @ Diamondbacks, May 8, 2001. Randy Johnson ties the MLB record for strikeouts over the course of nine innings, as he fanned 20 Reds hitters. Despite getting the no-decision, Arizona won 4-3 in 11 innings.

Devil Rays @ Blue Jays, September 25, 2003. Carlos Delgado became just the 15th player in MLB history to hit four home runs in a game, as he led the Blue Jays to a 10-8 victory over Tampa Bay.

Angels @ Yankees, April 26, 2005. Alex Rodriguez hits three home runs and drives in 10 as the Yankees rout Los Angeles, 12-4.

Yankees @ Angels, August 21, 2007. The Angels' Garrett Anderson returns the favor, as he goes 4-6, with two home runs and 10 RBIs, to lead the Angels to an 18-9 victory over the Bronx Bombers.