Carlos Santana becomes first Indians player to reach Eutaw Street since Jim Thome

Carlos Santana of the Cleveland Indians has yet to play 162 games in his two-year career. Nevertheless, the 25-year-old catcher and first baseman is already a member of the Eutaw Street home run club having driven a Mitch Atkins pitch an estimated 426 feet to right field in the first inning of Sunday afternoon's contest at Camden Yards. It was Santana's 134th career game.

It was about angle rather than distance for the switch hitting Santana. His 21st career home run does not rank in the top 10 for distance among balls hit on to Eutaw Street, yet it had the look of a potential Warehouse shot given its fair-or-foul placement (Buck Showalter argued foul) down the right-field line. Watch for yourself at MLB.com.

Santana's shot was the 56th Eutaw Street home run in Camden Yards history and the third of the 2011 season following the efforts of Luke Scott on April 27 and Lance Berkman on June 30. No Eutaw Street Home Runs were hit in 2010.

Santana is the second Cleveland Indians player to reach Eutaw Street after Jim Thome, who did it twice - July 26, 1996 (440 feet) and Sept. 5, 1999 (420 feet).

-34-