When you think of the MLB playoffs, great pitching duels and legendary closers facing star sluggers with the game on the line probably come to mind.
But that’s not always the case.
Sometimes, the best lineups in baseball just get the better of the opposing pitcher, or pitchers in today’s age of bullpens playing a major role in postseason games.
We’re going to take a look back at the highest scoring games and team performances in Major League Baseball playoff history.
Most Total Runs Scored in a Playoff Game: 30 – Boston Red Sox 23, Cleveland 7 (Oct. 10, 1999)
The Red Sox kept their foot on the gas for the entire night in a rout over Cleveland in Game 4 of the 1999 American League Division Series. The Red Sox scored in every inning but the sixth (they did not bat in the bottom of the ninth) and never scored more than five runs in a single frame.
They not only put up the most runs ever by a team in the playoffs, but the 30 combined runs between the teams are also the most in postseason history. Five members of the Red Sox went for three hits or more and John Valentin hit two homers on the night.
Most Total Runs Scored in a World Series Game: 29 – Toronto Blue Jays 15, Philadelphia Phillies 14 (Oct. 20, 1993)
While the Phillies hit three home runs (two by Lenny Dykstra) in the loss, the Blue Jays somehow put up 15 runs while failing to knock one out of the park. But trailing 14-9 in the top of the eighth, the Jays rallied for six runs to take the lead for good.
The game featured 32 hits, with Tony Fernandez, Devon White, Joe Carter, Dykstra, Mariano Duncan, Milt Thompson finishing with three apiece.
Most Runs Scored by a Team in a Playoff Game: 23 – Boston Red Sox vs. Cleveland (Oct. 10, 1999)
In a game that also holds the record for the most total runs in a playoff game, Boston pounded out 24 hits in a 23-7 rout in Game 4 of the ALDS. The previously mentioned John Valentin homered twice and drove in seven runs, Jose Offerman drove in five, and Mike Stanley had five hits as the Red Sox stayed hot after winning 9-3 in Game 3.
They would win the series in five games to advance to the ALCS, where they fell to the rival New York Yankees.
Most Runs by a Team in a World Series Game: 18 – New York Yankees vs. New York Giants (Oct. 2, 1936)
The 1936 Yankees still hold the record for the most runs scored in a World Series game. In Game 2 against the rival Giants at the Polo Grounds, they finished with 17 hits in a rout that also was the biggest margin of victory in a World Series game.
Tony Lazzeri delivered the big blow with a grand slam off Dick Coffman that broke it open and made it 9-1 for the Yankees. Lost in this scoring onslaught was Joe DiMaggio’s catch to end the game. Hank Leiber hit one 490 feet to dead center where DiMaggio caught the ball running up the steps of the clubhouse, rivaling Willie Mays’ catch there in the 1954 World Series.
Most Runs Scored in an Inning of a Playoff Game: 11 – Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves (Oct. 14, 2020)
Already down 2-0 in the best-of-seven NLCS, Los Angeles wasted no time to get back on track in this one. The Dodgers’ 11-run inning came in the top of the first, powered by a Joc Pederson three-run shot and a Max Muncy grand slam.
The Dodgers went on to win the game 15-3 before taking the series in seven games and eventually defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series.
Most Runs Scored in an Inning of a World Series Game: 10 – Two Teams Tied
The Chicago Cubs were on the verge of evening the World Series in Game 4 at Shibe Park with a seemingly insurmountable 8-0 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh. But 1929 Philadelphia Athletics scored 10 runs in the inning to stun the Cubs. The key play in the rally was Mule Haas’ three-run inside-the-park home run that Cubs center fielder Hack Wilson lost in the sun.
Desperately needing a win to keep their season alive nearly 40 years later, the 1968 Detroit Tigers erupted for 10 runs in the third inning on the way to a 13-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals that forced a Game 7 of the World Series. Al Kaline had four RBIs and Jim Northrup belted a grand slam.
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