In the fourth inning on Saturday night, Gavin Williams loaded the bases against the Padres, then walked Luis Arraez and two batters later hit Jake Cronenworth.
It was just the ninth time in the last 100 years a Cleveland pitcher walked a batter and hit a batter with the bases loaded.
- 2018 – Kyle Nelson
- 2012 – Justin Masterson
- 2010 – Aaron Laffey
- 1986 – Phil Niekro
- 1977 – Don Hood
- 1976 – Tom Buskey
- 1975 – Dennis Eckersley
- 1952 – Bob Feller
Everyone on the list except Williams and Feller did it to consecutive batters.
Eckersley’s meltdown was a historically embarrassing moment for the team. In the bottom of the 9th, with the Indians leading 2-1 at Chicago, rookie manager Frank Robinson called up Eck – a rookie reliever making just his ninth career appearance. Eck promptly hit the first batter, tying the game, then issued a walk-off-walk to the next batter.
