ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- It goes as little more than a footnote in what is ultimately a disappointing season, but Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria put himself in elite company with his 20th home run in Friday's win against the Baltimore Orioles.
Longoria has hit at least 20 home runs nine times in 10 years -- the only other third baseman ever to do that was Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews, every year from 1952-65.
For teammates struggling to deal with a season of missed opportunities, Longoria still stands as a model for consistency, even when he's enduring a down season by his own high standards.