This Day in Padres History, 7/20

Memorable starts for Jones, Despaigne; And a plethora of homers

By Bill Center

Greg Vaughn slams his 35th home run of the season in the upper deck at Qualcomm Stadium during the second inning of the Padres’ game against the St. Louis Cardinals

July 20, 1976 — Left-hander Randy Jones allows four hits and a walk with a strikeout in a complete-game shutout of the Phillies at San Diego Stadium for his 17th win of the season.

July 20, 1979 — Outfielder Jerry Turner hits a one-out, walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth to give the Padres a 2–1 win over the Mets at San Diego Stadium. Right-hander Gaylord Perry allows one run on four hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in a complete game to get the win.

July 20, 1998 — Greg Vaughn’s second “loge launch” of the season makes him the first player ever to hit four homers into the second deck in Mission Valley. Vaughn’s homer is measured at 433 feet. In the same game, the Cardinals Mark McGwire drives a homer 458 feet into the loge level.

July 20, 2011 — Four players have three hits and the Padres have 20 as a team in a 14–3 win at Florida.

July 20, 2014 — The Mets’ Daniel Murphy doubles with two out in the eighth to end Odrisamer Despaigne’s no-hit bid at Petco Park. Outfielder Seth Smith’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth gives the Padres a 2–1 win.

July 20, 2016 — Matt Kemp homers in a fourth straight game and second baseman Ryan Schimpf homers in both ends of a doubleheader in St. Louis as the Padres stretch their franchise record of homering in straight games to 18.