When a team is getting absolutely manhandled in a baseball game, it isn’t too uncommon to see that team’s manager give his pitchers some rest by giving a willing position player the chance to throw on the bump. That’s exactly what happened last night when Ron Washington’s Rangers were taking a beating from the Sox.
Washington sent former Red Sox outfielder David Murphy (who was traded to Texas as part of the Eric Gagne deal back in 2007) to the mound in the eighth inning of the Sox’ eventual 17-5 victory. According to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan, Murphy hasn’t pitched in an organized baseball game since high school.
Amazingly, Murphy pitched a scoreless eighth and wound up being the only Rangers pitcher in the box score who hadn’t allowed a run. After giving up a leadoff double to Daniel Nava, Murphy set down the next three batters – including a strikeout of Mike Carp on a 67 MPH…something. Murphy seemed pretty pleased with himself over the K, he couldn’t stop grinning afterwards. Carp’s reaction? Not so humorous – he got ejected for arguing with the call.
(I suspect he was just a little embarassed about being struck out by a guy who can’t throw over 80 MPH).
[MLB.com]
About Pete Blackburn