Cliff Pennington pitched in an ALCS game because the Royals are a storm
Outlandishness punctured distressingness late Tuesday evening at Rogers Center. The diversion lurched crazy, the Blue Jays' season neared the verge and an infielder jogged into the hill. Out of wretchedness, the Blue Jays discovered levity. Out of fiasco, Cliff Pennington left a mark on the world, or if nothing else an odd type of it.
In the ninth inning of the Royals' 14-2 devastation of the Blue Jays in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, Pennington turned into the first ebb and flow full-time position player to contribute the postseason. Angel Ruth and Rick Ankiel have played and contributed the postseason some time recently, however neither pitched while playing a standard position full-time.
"I figure that is really cool," Pennington said when informed of his association with Ruth. "Perhaps I can hit [60] homers and go along with him in that gathering, as well."
A conjunction of occasions prompted Pennington taking off to the warm up area in the ninth inning. The Royals had destroyed starter R.A. Dickey and relievers LaTroy Hawkins and Ryan Tepera. Supervisor John Gibbons expected to keep his best relievers, Aaron Sanchez and closer Roberto Osuna, for possible later use for Wednesday's Game 5. Lefty reliever Aaron Loup had left the group for a family crisis. He would not like to strain Mark Lowe, who additionally contributed Game 3.
Thus Gibbons confronted the prospect no director relishes: Sending a defender to the hill. Pennington answered to the warm up area toward the begin of the inning. As Lowe battled, he began warming up.
"I tossed three pitches," Pennington said. "I'm a position player. That is everything I needed."
When Lowe hit Alex Gordon with a pitch, Gibbons chose it would not be reasonable let Lowe dangle any more. He walked to the hill.
"It was getting so appalling," Gibbons said. "You attempt to have a little pride, in any case. I prefer not to utilize position players. Perhaps we left a mark on the world today, I don't have the foggiest idea. A defining moment like that, a position player pitches."
As Gibbons walked, the group, or if nothing else what stayed of it, rose. They had seen Pennington tossing in the warm up area, and they longed for the peculiarity of watching him pitch.
