Josh Hamilton hit four home runs and a double as the Rangers beat the Orioles 10-3. His four homers ties the record for most home runs in a game and his 18 total bases sets a new American League record.

The last player to hit four home runs in a game was Carlos Delgado on Sept. 25, 2003, for Toronto against Tampa Bay. Two of the 16 players to hit four homers in a game did it before 1900.

Hamilton is the sixth AL slugger to perform the feat. The last player to hit four homers in a game against the Orioles was Rocky Colavito in 1959, at old Memorial Stadium.

Hamilton, who is in the final year of his contract and could become a free agent after this season, leads the AL with 14 homers and 36 RBIs, and his 5-for-5 effort raised his batting average to .406.

Josh Hamilton ties an MLB record with his fourth home run of the game Tuesday night. Photo: © Joy R. Absalon-US PRESSWIRE

More impressively, his slugging percentage went up from .703 to .840. All four home runs were two-run shots.

Update: Not a bad year so far. A month into the season we’ve seen two no-hitters, including a perfect game, and a four home run performance. The old AL total base record was 16, and Fred Lynn was one of the the people to reach that without hitting four home runs.