On May 23, 2002, former Dodgers outfielder Shawn Green had what was arguably the single greatest day in baseball history. On that day he hit a major league record-tying 4 home runs and a record-tying five extra-base hits (he also had a double) while collecting 19 total bases to break Joe Adcock’s previous record of 18 set in 1954. And while Green may not have put up Hall of Fame-worthy numbers during his outstanding 15-year MLB career, his bat and batting gloves from that historic day are there.

Green’s bat and batting gloves from his historic game on May 23, 2002 are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown. (Photo credit Ron Cervenka)

On Wednesday, July 6, 2016, in a rare mid-week, mid-homestand day game, Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley matched Green’s epic six-hit day. And though Utley did not hit four home runs – or even one for that matter – it was a historic day for the 37-year-old Pasadena, California native nonetheless.

“Just found some open ground out there but overall it was a really good game. Obviously we were disappointed with the outcome,” Utley said after the game. “We battled, our relievers did a great job once again keeping us in the game, we put a lot of guys on base, a few big hits – could have used a couple more – but I like our chances when we’ve got guys on base.”

Utley collected his career-high sixth hit in the 13th inning of Wednesday afternoon’s game – an opposite field looper into short left field. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Indeed the Dodgers relievers did a great job; in fact, they held the Baltimore Orioles scoreless for seven of the marathon 14 innings played. But with only Pedro Baez left in the Dodgers bullpen, right-hander Chris Hatcher let the game get away in the top half of the 14th when he allowed back-to-back singles to Orioles third baseman Manny Machado and first baseman Chris Davis followed by a two-out, 0-2 count two-RBI double by O’s second baseman Jonathan Schoop.

But even down by two runs the Dodgers continued to battle in their half of the 14th inning. With one out, the suddenly hot Adrian Gonzalez lined a double into the left-center field gap. This was followed by a walk by Dodgers center fielder Trayce Thompson to bring the potential winning run to the plate in the form of Howie Kendrick. Kendrick reached first base on a force out that erased Thompson to bring catcher Yasmani Grandal to the plate representing the potential winning run. But after Orioles recently named All-Star closer Zach Britton fell behind 2-0 in the count to the weak-hitting Dodgers catcher, O’s manager Buck Showalter elected to intentionally walk Grandal to load the bases and take his chances with Hatcher coming up.

Unfortunately for the Dodgers, they had no one left on their bench to pinch-hit for the Dodgers reliever; however, Hatcher is not your average reliever (in more ways than one); he has already had two at-bats this season and was 1 for 2 with an RBI. After falling behind 0-2 on two absolutely filthy hard sinkers by Britton, Hatcher managed to get the bat on the ball on the third one and hit a nubber back to the mound. To his credit, Hatcher came within a half step of beating Britton’s throw, but did not, and after five hours and 26 minutes the game was over with Baltimore prevailing by a score of 6-4.

Although Wednesday’s hard-fought loss (coupled with a Giants win over the Colorado Rockies) drops the Dodgers six games back in the NL West, it was arguably one of the best played games of the season, except for the one glowing area that seems to be the Dodgers Kryptonite this season – leaving runners on base and even more so leaving them in scoring position.

“We had opportunities, we left 16 guys on base and we’ve got to take advantage of the opportunities we have,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “We might have tried to do a little bit too much. Sometimes you’ve got to put the baseball in play but obviously they’re going up there trying to get guys out as well.

“Lately we’ve been doing well situationally and today is just one of those days that when you look at 16 runners left on base and situational opportunities that we didn’t cash in,” added the Dodgers skipper.