To this day many consider it the most electric time in L.A. Dodgers history – Eric Gagne‘s remarkable 84 consecutive-saves streak that ran from August 26, 2002 through July 5, 2004. It would begin with the Dodgers clinging to a one, two or three-run lead heading into the ninth inning, followed by Guns N’ Roses’ Welcome to the Jungle blaring from the PA speakers at Dodger Stadium and it always ended with Gagne picking up the save… always. Game Over.

But halfway through Gagne’s incredible streak, a record that many feel will never be broken, something unusual happened – Eric Gagne actually blew a save. It happened during the 2003 All-Star Game when the then 27-year-old Montreal, Canada native allowed an eighth-inning two-run home run to Texas Rangers slugger Hank Blalock, thereby blowing the save and suffering the loss.

Many longtime Dodger fans say that the electricity in Dodger Stadium when Gagné entered a game during his record-setting 84 consecutive-saves streak has never been matched.
(Photo credit – Stephen Dunn)

Fortunately for Gagne, statistics from the annual Midsummer Classic do not count towards the regular season. As such, Gagne’s consecutive-saves streak remained intact when regular season play resumed following the All-Star break.

Gagne would go on to finish the 2003 season converting every one of his 55 save opportunities en route to the 2003 NL Cy Young award joining “Iron” Mike Marshall as the only other reliever in Dodgers history to do so.

Fast forward to July 14, 2015 – baseball’s 86th edition of the annual All-Star Game.

Heading into the game, Dodgers co-ace Zack Greinke hadn’t allowed a run in 35.2 innings. He had won his last 3 starts (preceded by two no-decisions) and entered the Midsummer Classic with an MLB-best 1.39 ERA – the fourth-best ERA at the All-Star break since 1968 when three players did so – Bob Gibson (1.06), Luis Tiant (1.24) and Don Drysdale (1.37).

But then something unusual happened… okay, maybe not – Zack Greinke gave up a leadoff home run to Angels center fielder and reigning 2014 AL MVP Mike Trout on a 94-MPH fastball. It wasn’t a horrible pitch, it was just up in the zone a little too much (or perhaps not enough) for the incredibly strong 23-year-old right-handed-hitting Vineland, New Jersey native, who smoked a laser-shot line-drive down the right (opposite) field line and into the seats.

Even though Greinke allowed a leadoff home rune to Mike Trout, he ended up striking out four of the eight batters he faced in his two innings of work in the 2015 All-Star Game.
(Photo credit – Jeff Roberson)

Fortunately for Greinke, statistics from the annual Midsummer Classic do not count towards the regular season. As such, Greinke’s consecutive scoreless-innings streak remains intact when regular season play resumes on Friday. Ironically, Greinke is currently the front-runner to win the 2015 NL Cy Young award.

Could it be déjà vu all over again?