BAY AREA BASEBALL Switch pitcher debuts for Athletics
BOSTON (AP) – Pat Venditte took his warmup pitches in his major league debut with his right arm. And his left.
The ambidextrous pitcher entered the game against the Boston Red Sox at the start of the seventh inning after being called up Friday by the Oakland Athletics.
Wearing a specially designed glove, he threw warmup pitches with his right hand, then switched to his left to face lefty Brock Holt.
After Holt grounded out to first, Venditte put his glove on his left hand and pitched to righty Hanley Ramirez, who singled on the second pitch. Then, still pitching with his right arm, he got righty Mike Napoli to ground into an inning-ending double play. Then Venditte pitched a perfect eighth, capping his first big league appearance after seven-plus years in the minors.
And that was more meaningful than being the first pitcher in 20 years to throw with both hands in the same game.
“The most special thing is being here,” Venditte said after Boston’s 4-2 win. “It’s been such a long journey.”
Fans may stare when Venditte switches his glove from one hand to the other, but the Athletics promoted him because he pitched very well this season at Triple-A Nashville.
“There’s a little bit of a sideshow to it for good reason,” Melvin said. “But the reason he’s here is because he’s performed.”
Venditte took the mound to the song “Both Sides, Now,” written by Joni Mitchell.
Giants 5, Phillies 4 PHILADELPHIA – The Giants’ offense gave Tim Lincecum plenty of support.
Buster Posey hit the goahead home run in the seventh inning, and Matt Duffy and Justin Maxwell also homered, helping the Giants snap a five-game skid.
The defending World Series champions spent Thursday’s off day visiting the White House for the third time in five years. Right-hander Tim Lincecum didn’t make the trip to Washington, instead flying by himself from San Francisco to Philadelphia to be fully rested for Friday’s start.
Lincecum (6-3) didn’t have his best stuff, but he was good enough, allowing four runs on five hits in six innings, with four strikeouts and two walks.
“The guys kept me in the game,” Lincecum said. “I just wanted to give the team a chance to win. The guys put together some good at-bats for me.”
Joe Panik contributed two hits with a double for the Giants, who won their fourth straight on the road and 10th in the last 13 in Philadelphia. San Francisco opened a six-game road trip.
“It was a good win because we’ve come off a tough skid at home,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “It’s always good to get that first game of a road trip.”