Counting yesterday we've gone back-to-back-to-back 6 times in Blue Jay history.
The first was April 26, 1984 at Exhibition Stadium against the A's. Willie Upshaw, George Bell and Jesse Barfield did it in the bottom of the 6th. We went from down 6 to 1 to down 6-4. It didn't matter, we lost 7-4. The A's pitcher was Mike Warren who still got the win, making him 3-2 on the season. After the 3rd home run, Warren got Ernie Whitt to ground out, then gave up a single to Rance Mulliniks and was taken out of the game. Willie Upshaw had hit another solo home run in the 4th inning, all our runs came on solo homers. The losing pitcher was Jim Gott, who went 5.1, giving up 6 earned. and 2 home runs of his own. Rookie Jimmy Key pitched the last two innings. Back then the Jays broke pitchers into the majors as relievers, figuring it was easier on them. I still think it is a good idea.
Our second was September 12, 1987 also at Exhibition Stadium. This time it was Ernie Whitt, Jesse Barfield and Kelly Gruber. The Jays beat the Yankees 13 to 1. We were in first place at the time, but that was the less than fun season where we blew the division lead at Detroit during the last series. The three homers came in the bottom of the 8th, with the Jays already up 8-1. The first (by Whitt) was a 3 run shot. We left the inning up 13-1. The unfortunate victim of the 3 long balls was Bill Fulton. He gave up 5 runs in 1.2 that game. That was his first MLB appearance, he'd only make 2 more, but he finished with a 1-0 career record. Whitt also had a 2 run homer in the 4th inning and Rance Mulliniks had a solo homer in the 2nd. The winning pitcher was Jimmy Key who improved to 16-6 (he'd finish 17-8 coming in 2nd in the Cy Young voting). The losing pitcher was Rick Rhoden, who dropped to 16-10.
The third time was April 18, 2000 at Sky Dome. Craig Grebek (1 of 3 homers he hit for the Jays over 2 seasons), Raul Mondesi and Carlos Delgado were the threesome. Unfortunately, it didn't help us much, we lost 16-10 to the Angels. The homers came in the 6th, we were already down 11-0 at the start of the inning, at the end it was 11-4, there was one on for Grebek. We scored 6 more in the 9th (Jose Cruz Jr homered), way too little, too late. The victim of the 3 homers was starter and winner Jason Dickson who moved to 2-0 on the season. Losing pitcher was starter Frank Castillo, who dropped to 0-2. He'd finish the season at 10-5.
The fourth time was August 21, 2001 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis. This time Shannon Stewart, Raul Mondesi and Carlos Delgado were the sluggers. We won the game 7-5. The homers started off the 6th inning, we were down 5-3, but they put us up 6-5 at the end of the inning and we hung on to win. Reliever Jack Cressend came in to start that inning, giving up the 3 homers, striking out Brad Fullmer and giving up a walk to Darren Fletcher before being pulled. Jays' winning pitcher was starter Brandon Lyon, who improved to 2-2 on the season. He made 11 starts in that, his rookie season, going 5-4 with a 4.29 ERA,. Billy Koch picked up his 29th (of 36) save.
The fifth as April 9, 2005 at Rogers Centre against the Red Sox. Vernon Wells, Corey Koskie and Shea Hillenbrand (before the ship started sinking) hit them. We won the game 12-5. They happened in the 3rd inning, the Jays were already up 2-1 to start the inning, they were hit off David Wells. We finished the inning 5-1. Everyone's favorite commentator, Gregg Zaun hit a grand slam in the 8th inning to seal the win. David Wells got the loss, dropping him to 0-2. He finished the season 15-7. They left David in after the 3 home runs, he went 6.1 giving up 6 earned. Roy Halladay started but didn't get the win (he'd finish 12-4 that year). Jason Frasor got it in relief, making him 1-0 on the season.
And then last night's, with Rasmus, Bautista and Encarnacion. Tyler Thornburg, making his first career start gave them up. You know the rest.