CLEVELAND — Editor's note: the video in the player above is from a previous story.
History happened in more ways than one at Progressive Field on Monday afternoon.
The Cleveland Indians played their last home game under the Indians moniker, as the team will be shifting its nickname to the Guardians, effective after the season. While that was known before first pitch happened between Cleveland and Kansas City, the other historical event happened in the bottom of the eighth inning as Indians outfielder Bradley Zimmer had the chance to face his brother, Kyle Zimmer, a pitcher for the Royals and hit a home run off of him.
Zimmer became the fourth player in Major League Baseball history to hit a home run off his brother, according to MLB Stats, joining Cleveland’s George Stovall, Boston’s Rick Ferrell, and Houston’s Joe Niekro in pulling off the feat. Niekro was the last to accomplish it, hitting a home run off of his brother Phil Niekro, who eventually made the Baseball Hall of Fame, in 1975.
Monday was the third time that the Zimmer brothers have squared off in a regular-season game, with all three matchups coming this season. The first time, Kyle bested his brother, striking Bradley out swinging on July 10, while the second time saw Bradley work a five-pitch walk on Aug. 31.
Zimmer is hitting .248 with eight home runs and 31 runs batted in for Cleveland this season.
Following Monday's 8-3 victory, the Indians hit the road for their final six games of the season, headed to Kansas City for a three-game series before wrapping things up with three games in Texas.
Locked On Indians:
On the latest episode of Locked On Indians, host Jeff Ellis discusses Bradley Zimmer hitting a home run off his brother, Kyle, as well as the return of Shane Bieber.